China seeks 'new chapter' with Iran after sanctions lifted

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China seeks 'new chapter' with Iran after sanctions lifted

ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press


TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday he hopes for a "new chapter" in relations with Iran after the lifting of international sanctions under a historic nuclear deal, as he paid the first visit by a Chinese leader to the Islamic Republic in 14 years.

"In cooperation with the Iranian side and by benefiting from the current favorable conditions, China is ready to upgrade the level of bilateral relations and cooperation so that a new chapter will start in bilateral relations," Xi said after meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, according to Iranian state TV.

Trade between the two countries stood at some $52 billion in 2014, but that figure dropped last year due to plunging oil prices. China is Iran's biggest trade partner, and continued purchasing oil from Iran after nuclear-related sanctions were tightened in 2012, despite U.S. pressure.

"China has always stood by the side of the Iranian nation during hard days," Rouhani said, in comments posted on his official website.

Officials from the two countries signed 17 documents and letters of intent to broaden bilateral cooperation in industry, transportation, railways, ports, new technology, tourism, the environment and energy.

China is one of six world powers -- along with the U.S., Germany, France, Britain and Russia -- that reached a landmark agreement with Iran last summer to lift international sanctions in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program. The deal was implemented a week ago after the U.N. nuclear watchdog certified that Iran had fulfilled all its commitments.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-23

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CCP's "all weather friend" Pakistan is a direct rival of Iran and their shia society, which makes Islamabad more than nervous about this kind of visit by Xi.

Add to that India is splitting away from the CCP orbit to include Brics and that India has historically good relations with Iran, which is another factor Xi had to get some airing of during this visit. Russia sells arms to India which CCP doesn't approve of.

No CCP China leader had visited Iran since 2003 out of a direct concern that it would be an unwelcome development in Washington. Now that there's a nuclear agreement, Washington hasn't any reason to object to Xi trying to get his Beijing ducks in a row in a sanctions free Iran.

However, Saudi Arabia's ruling family is not pleased to see Xi prancing around in Tehran.

In 2013, when CCP Dictators in Beijing tried to get involved in complex ME negotiations and issues as a go-between of Israel and Palestinians, CCP were told by everyone involved through the region that it's just too complex for the always remote and distant Chinese to understand or to deal with. In other words get lost thx which CCP did do.

CCP and Xi are doing virtually nothing about Daesh. CCP are Iraq's largest oil driller and buyer while Daesh leaves CCP oil operations free of any problems from Baghdad to Basra. This is another one that doesn't go over well in Riyadh either. Putin remains uncomfortably silent on it too.

All of which pretty much sums up this photo-op and glad handing visit. Nothing of substance or significance because anything of either or both would upset too many emotional elites that already have too many conflicts.

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"China has always stood by the side of the Iranian nation during hard days" while it was also part of the G5 that forced Iran into a nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, internally China's vigorous and open suppression of Islam will not change with any trade agreement.

Iran will embrace infusion of China capital but remain wary of Xi's political duplicity.