BEIJING – China will not confront with Iran for the sake of Saudi Arabiaand has growing ties with both countries, China’s former ambassador to Irantold the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Saturday.
‘The relations of China with the two big West Asian countries, which arelarge producers of energy, is friendly; and unlike the US, China doesn’tintended to create a discord between them ,’said Hua Liming regarding theSaudi crown prince’s presence in Beijing one day after Speaker of Majlis(Iranian Parliament) Ali Larijani’s visit to the Chinese capital.
Saying that Iran is the biggest power in the region and has longstandingties with China, he added, ‘Iran Majlis speaker was accompanied by threeministers and the governor of Iran Central Bank on his visit to China,which shows the importance of political and economic relations betweenBeijing and Tehran.’
Larijani made a three-day visit to China at the invitation of his Chinesecounterpart Li Zhanshu to strengthen parliamentary and political relations.Larijani was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad-JavadZarif, Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh, Minister of Economy FarhadDejpasand, and Governor of the Central Bank Abdonnaser Hemmati.
Hua said that China is the biggest trade partner of Iran and added thatIran and China have always kept their good ties, even during the USsanctions against Iran.
He added that although the US is trying to pressure other countries toreduce their relations with Iran, Tehran and Beijing’s normal relations arein progress according to the international agreements; China will keep itsrelations at high levels, paying no attention to US threats.
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Mohammad bin Salman, Saudi crown prince heading a high-ranking delegationtravelled to China for a two-day visit.
Western and European countries may have biased approaches regarding Iran,Saudi Arabia and Israel and interfere in the region, the Chinese politiciansaid.
‘But China behaved the other way round. China rejects partiality; that’swhy countries of the region have always welcomed China’s mediation.’
