Iran, China to Form Joint Cooperative Committee to Boost Economic Collaboration

TEHRAN (Iran News) The meeting, held between Bahman Abdollahi, President of the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives, and Zhong Peiwu, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Iran, focused on assessing the current state of economic and cooperative relations between the two countries and exploring new mechanisms to deepen collaboration.

During the talks, Abdollahi highlighted the significant potential of both nations in advancing people-centered and social economies. He noted that despite international sanctions, Iran’s cooperative sector has never been targeted and therefore remains one of the most secure and dependable channels for economic partnership with friendly countries such as China.

“We propose the establishment of a Joint Cooperative Cooperation Committee between Iran and China,” Abdollahi stated. “This committee will provide a platform for planning and executing joint projects, exchanging trade delegations, and organizing specialized exhibitions in both Tehran and Beijing.”

He explained that Iran currently has over 104,000 active cooperatives engaged in agriculture, industry, services, housing, and manufacturing, while China operates more than two million cooperatives. These extensive networks, he said, can serve as a strong foundation for expanding people-oriented economic cooperation.

Abdollahi emphasized that Iran and China already share a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement and hold joint membership on the Board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) — an institutional framework that supports deeper bilateral collaboration.

The current trade volume between the two countries stands at approximately $14 billion, he said, but given their vast economic capacities, this figure could increase significantly through structured cooperation.

The discussions centered on expanding partnerships in agriculture, mining, petrochemicals, and transportation, with an emphasis on technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable development.

Addressing Iran’s agricultural challenges, Abdollahi noted the country’s vulnerability to climate change and limited water resources. He called for increased collaboration with China in areas such as modern irrigation systems, seed production, livestock vaccines, and feed additives.

“China has made remarkable progress in agricultural science and food production technologies,” he said. “We are eager to benefit from these experiences to enhance domestic production and ensure food security.”

On industrial cooperation, Abdollahi invited Chinese companies to participate in mineral processing, petrochemical projects, and value-added production to reduce the export of raw materials. Such cooperation, he added, could meet both domestic Iranian demand and part of the Chinese market’s requirements.

The Iranian cooperative leader also expressed appreciation for Beijing’s principled stance against unilateral sanctions on Iran.

“China’s official decision to reject the so-called ‘snapback’ sanctions and maintain commercial ties with Iran reflects the depth of our strategic relationship,” Abdollahi said. “We value this firm and consistent approach, which supports sustainable growth in both countries.”

Ambassador Zhong Peiwu welcomed the growing momentum in Iran–China relations, stressing the need to reinforce mutual trust and fully implement the agreements reached by the presidents of both nations.

“Economic and cooperative relations are a vital component of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Iran,” Zhong remarked. “These collaborations strengthen the historic friendship between our two peoples.”

He noted that the areas of potential cooperation are broad — spanning agriculture, marine industries, and fisheries — and reiterated China’s readiness to work with the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives to advance knowledge-sharing, technological exchange, and innovation.

Zhong also supported the formation of the proposed Joint Cooperative Committee, describing it as an effective mechanism for monitoring and implementing bilateral agreements.

Another key topic discussed was the facilitation of visa issuance for business and cooperative representatives. Abdollahi urged the Chinese Embassy to expedite the visa process to help Iranian cooperatives participate in exhibitions and trade fairs in China.

In response, Ambassador Zhong announced improvements in consular procedures, noting that once documentation is complete, visas can be issued within four to five working days.

Both sides also agreed to prepare an updated version of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Cooperative Organization and the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives, which is expected to be finalized and signed during the Asia-Pacific Cooperative Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Abdollahi and Zhong concluded the meeting by emphasizing the importance of forming a Permanent Joint Cooperative Committee to ensure continuity in bilateral engagement and oversee the implementation of cooperative agreements.

The committee will coordinate joint projects, organize exhibitions, facilitate business delegations, and identify new areas of investment.

The meeting was attended by several senior Iranian cooperative officials, including Hossein Dar, Chairman of the Industrial, Mining, Petrochemical, and Energy Commission; Mr. Masoudi, Chairman of the Agriculture and Food Industries Commission; and Mr. Ghaedi, Head of the Trade Development and Non-Oil Export Commission.

Participants discussed a range of technical and economic topics, such as importing equipment and plastic injection molds for downstream petrochemical industries, establishing credit lines for cooperative enterprises, and importing agricultural inputs like corn and soybeans. They also explored collaboration opportunities in veterinary vaccine production, irrigation technology, and knowledge exchange between economic stakeholders in both countries.

With both nations pledging to deepen institutional cooperation and sustain high-level dialogue, the formation of a Permanent Joint Cooperative Committee marks a significant step forward in realizing the full potential of the Iran–China strategic economic partnership.