China and Iran push public diplomacy, but will Beijing’s soft power tactics work in the Islamic Republic?

The countries are boosting tourism, culture and other exchanges so their people can ‘get to know each other’ amid antagonism from the West

But some analysts question if Chinese outreach can succeed, saying it relies too much on government channels, which might alienate many Iranians

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Iran sees closer economic ties with China as an escape route from international isolation in the face of Western sanctions. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Published: 12:45am, 25 Jan 2024Updated: 1:34am, 25 Jan 2024

As soon as Eva Liang stepped onto the streets of Tehran, Iran’s capital, she knew her adventure in the Middle Eastern country would be completely different from what she had learned from books, the media and other people’s travel stories.

During her trip through Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kashan and Yazd, she was warmly welcomed by locals and invited to take selfies. Free tea and hookah sessions often followed.

More surprisingly, she saw Iranian people openly discussing politics in cafes and squares and scrolling through popular apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok and foreign news channels on their mobile phones.

“Everyone, everything is thriving. [Iranian] people care about each other, and they talk about politics. It is like China 20 to 30 years ago,” Liang said.

People are seen in the old bazaar in the city of Shahr-e Ray, south of Tehran, on January 8. Photo: AFP

The Chinese national added that she felt people in her home country seemed to have stopped caring about politics as they were discouraged from doing so and it was too far removed from their lives.

Liang, a 27-year-old consultant from Shanghai, chose Iran as her first travel destination after Covid-19 restrictions were eased, joining a growing number of Chinese tourists who have visited the country since Tehran waived visa requirements in 2019.