TEHRAN (ecoideal)- The 8th Meeting of Iran-China Friendship Society was held in Beijing at the presence of Chinese businessmen and enthusiasts.
Iran’s Ambassador to China Ali Asghar Khaji, President of the Iran-China Friendship Society Aqa Mohammadi, Vice President of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) Lin Yi and Deputy Culture Minister for Art Affairs Ali Moradkhani attended the forum, entitled ‘Iran-China cooperation to establish joint silk road’.
Hassan Tavana, a member of the Iran-China Friendship Society, said the association has been established as one of the oldest Iranian friendship groups 17 years ago.
“As a private sector, the association is one wing of Foreign Ministry, and it has been instrumental in developing relations between Iran and China,” Tavana said.
He also noted that the association, in addition to the development of political and economic relations between the two countries, has been active in cultural affairs, including the sisterhood of various cities over the past few years.
Lin Yi, for her part, said Silk Road has been connecting two ancient civilizations since ancient times, and now this new joint Silk Road is a great potential for the continuity of relations between the two countries.
“With the boost in economic relations between the two countries, the cultural ties have also been expanded, and now the association, as the representative of two large and civilized countries, has been the driving force behind the strengthening of relations between the two countries,” she added.
In a relevant development in June, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Li Huilai declared that his country will support Iran's Full Membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Council in the SCO's upcoming meeting in Kazakhstan.
"Iran’s membership in the SCO will be discussed in the upcoming meeting in Astana on July 7," Li said.
He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping, heading a high-ranking delegation, will attend the meeting, and said, "Iran’s presence is important for Beijing and China will welcome and support Iran's full membership in SCO."
SCO is an emerging economic and security alliance which is being touted as the counterweight to the West’s institutions.
Tehran currently has an observer status in the organization which is led by China and Russia. Iran expected the SCO to give a serious reading to its bid at the bloc’s summit in the Uzbek capital Tashkent in June.
But the body did not, prompting Tehran to take a back seat on its attempt. Reports from the summit at the time said SCO members had failed to initiate the accession process for Iran which expected to make it into the group after the lifting of Western sanctions.
SCO members played for time on Iran’s membership, citing the sanctions but the country’s nuclear agreement in July 2016 removed that hurdle.
Source: Farsnews