Tehran-Beijing Trade Volume Falls to $20b Due to Sanctions
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
China’s Ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua says despite fall in trade volume between both countries, the trade volume has exceeded $20b since the beginning 2019.
Speaking in a meeting to review Iran-China economic relations, Chang said that the volume of bilateral trade with Tehran was $35b in 2018 and the figure decreased this year because of sanctions and the trade volume since the beginning of 2019 till November has been $20b.
He added that the trade volume between both countries was around $37b between 2016 to 2017 and after the U.S. pullout of the JCPOA , it fell to $35b and this year the decline has continued.
He also said that China has so far declared support for Iran’s nuclear deal, opposing the unlawful sanctions imposed on Iran.
Chang referred to the meeting between Iranian and Chinese presidents meeting in the United Nations, saying that strategic ties between Iran and China have entered a new chapter and the political trust has increased between two countries.
Both countries support each other with regard to important issues based on their main interests.
He described Iran deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as an important multilateral agreement which has been signed through negotiation.
Preserving the JCPOA means saving multilateralism and international system based on international regulations, he reiterated.
Chang urged JCPOA parties to preserve the security of the Persian Gulf.
He noted that there are ethnic, religious and geopolitical differences between the Middle East nations and the transregional powers creating tension by the US bullying over the international affairs.
After US withdrawal from the JCPOA and re-imposition of sanctions against Iran, unjustified pressures and obstacles created for Iran-China relations.
Stressing cultural interactions between two countries, Hua said Iran and China are two ancient states have longstanding relations since the establishment of the Silk Road.
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying referred to the recent trip by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to China, saying two countries have so far reached broad consensus under the nuclear deal.
“The U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and maximum pressure on Iran led to the continued tension that risks the total collapse of the agreement,” she added.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has ordered gas to be injected into 1,044 centrifuges rising the country’s enrichment level to near 9,500 Sus which is very close to the time before the nuclear deal.
During the last stages, Iran first surpassed the 300 kg cap on enriched uranium, then the enrichment level rose past 3.67% to 4.5%.
Meanwhile the Chinese Ambassador met Chairman of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce Gholam-Hossein Shafei and during the meeting both sides explored ways for easing trade between both states.
Mr. Shafei urged Mr. Chang and China’s government to remove banking hurdle which is essential for bilateral trade.
