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US-Iran tensions
ChinaDiplomacy

China’s commitment to Iran ‘unchanged’, Beijing envoy assures Tehran

  • Determination to develop ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ remains, despite rising tensions in the region
  • China condemns US ‘military adventurism’

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China has assured Iran its commitment to the growing partnership between the two countries is unchanged, following the US killing of General Qassem Soleimani. Photo: EPA-EFE
Wendy Wuin Beijing
Beijing will not change its commitment to bolstering its partnership with Tehran, despite the spike in geopolitical tensions, according to China’s envoy to Iran.
In a meeting with Iran’s acting agricultural minister Abbas Keshavarz – held before Iranian forces launched more than a dozen missiles against two US military bases in Iraq – Beijing’s envoy Chang Hua boosted cooperation between the two nations.

“No matter how the global and regional situations have changed, China’s determination to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran will not change,” Chang said, according to a statement released by the Chinese embassy on Tuesday.

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China and Iran had maintained good momentum in agricultural cooperation and achieved substantive outcomes in tech and person-to-person exchanges, grain security and fisheries, Chang said.

China’s envoy to Tehran Chang Hua and Iranian acting agricultural minister Abbas Keshavarz. Photo: Handout
China’s envoy to Tehran Chang Hua and Iranian acting agricultural minister Abbas Keshavarz. Photo: Handout
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The meeting followed the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, by a US drone attack on January 3.

Iran launched its retaliatory strikes on Tuesday night, local time, with US President Donald Trump responding on Twitter to say “All is well!” and promising to make a statement on the attacks on Wednesday morning in the US. Stocks in Asian financial markets fell on the news of the strikes. Airlines issued bans or warnings to civilian flights over Iraq, Iran and the surrounding area.

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