China Government is busy with investment in the West Asian region and it has so far allocated budget worth $160b in its strategic plan of “One Belt One Road (OBOR)”.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

On Sunday, November 8, 2019, and exactly one year ago during a specialized conference (One Belt-One Road), Professor of China Study from Tehran University Mr. Behzad Shahandeh explained the policies of China, and elaborated the approach of the strategists of the country regarding the significance of ties with China. He revealed important information which says, “The Chinese have invested heavily in Gwadar Port of Pakistan and soon this port will become the second Dubai while currently, hundreds of cranes in this port are active in unloading and uploading and they transfer China’s importing and exporting goods.”

He termed political-economic relations of China and Pakistan very deep and strategic, added, “The Chinese look at Pakistan as a partner and friend for all seasons.” Mr. Shahandeh is a university teacher politically in alignment with Iran’s 12th government (the current government). If the statesmen do not listen to him, so to whom are they to listen?

On the “One Belt One Road Initiative”, Mr. Shahandeh says, “At first this project was not to be the strategic policy of China but suddenly in 2015, the Chinese took it seriously and it has currently turned into Xi Jinping (China’s President)’s main project. In Iran this point should be noticed that China’s GDP is $27 trillion as the figure is very higher than any of this country’s rival especially the U.S. because the current GDP of the U.S. stands at $18 trillion. Although the aggregate GDP and purchasing power in the U.S. is more than China which indicates an intense competition between these two countries for becoming superpower in the world. According to many experts, the Chinese are today the world economic power number one, and unity with them will provide the ground for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s participation with them in the whole region.

China’s economic policies abroad are concentrated in two regions, first in the West Asia and second in African states. That why China has been motivated for investment in Africa is because of the continent’s untapped environmental condition and infrastructural needs. But in the West Asia, China has to take in technology because the number of implemented projects in the infrastructures in this region is incomparable with Africa. Hence, for optimizing the cost-benefit in the oil and telecommunication projects, China can bring in investment and technology and we also provide them with workforce and market.

So these conditions, if are managed properly and not destroyed, will be very useful for us but why the 12th government when it started its job did not respond positively to China raises a question mark that one day the truth behind it will be revealed to the Iranian nation. What seems obvious is that on January 24, 2016, exactly eight days after the nuclear deal (JCPOA) came into effect and when Iran was in a fairly stronger position, albeit propagative, and all countries in the world which were seeking seemingly investment in the Islamic Republic of Iran, China’s President Xi visited Tehran at the invitation of the head of 12th government and during the second term of President Hassan Rouhani. The Chinese President had an important proposal: increasing the industrial, commercial and trade relations with Iran to $600b in ten years, in other words, $60b per year till 2025. But the statesmen focused on the JCPOA and the West and did not care this unique proposal.

There is a reasonable criticism to President Rouhani and one day he should split the reason for snubbing China’s proposal and answer to it.

Even after the first JCPOA or we give discount and accept that China is the second world economic power, if a small portion of that $600b had been invested in Iran by the Chinese, the next sanctions of the U.S. could have been a blow to the Chinese government’s interests. Then could U.S. President Donald Trump dare to tear apart the JCPOA so easily? Today those who voted for President Rouhani for his second term should ask themselves what the reason was for not cooperating with China. If our economy due to the rise in the volume of liquidity needs to rein the balance, and experts believe that arrival of investment is the solution, so why has not this important issue been heeded?

  By: Hamid Reza Naghashian

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN –  President Hassan Rouhani felicitated the Chinese National Day and expressed readiness for increased cooperation with Beijing, especially in producing the COVID-19 vaccine.

In a message on Wednesday to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Rouhani expressed congratulations to the Chinese people and government on the occasion of the National Day.

Cultural commonalities, long history of bilateral ties, and common viewpoint of the two countries towards international developments, that arises from the determination to confront unilateralism, have paved the way for the expansion of bilateral ties in different fields, he said.

“I am sure that the conclusion and signing of the 25-year comprehensive strategic cooperation plan between the two countries will be a giant step in proceeding common interests and will be in line with international peace and security and also confronting unilateralism,” he said.

Despite all its problems, the COVID-19 outbreak prepared ground for showcasing China’s power in helping the fate of the humankind, said Rouhani.

“Just as the two countries were standing side by side in the fight against the disease since its outbreak, I expressed my country’s readiness to cooperate with China in producing COVID-19 vaccine and I hope that the ground for cooperation in this field would be paved with the direction of your Excellency,” he added.

He also wished Xi Jinping and the Chinese people health and success.

Earlier First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri expressed congratulations to the Chinese officials and people on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the establishment of Modern China which is celebrated on October 1.

On the occasion of the National day, Jahangiri sent two separate messages to Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Vice President Wang Qishan.

He pointed to the history of ties between the two countries and cultural commonalities, noting that the common stance and view of Tehran and Beijing towards some international developments and the both countries’ determination to fight unilateralism have created a firm ground for strategic and comprehensive cooperation between Iran and China.

Jahangiri added that the signing of the 25-year comprehensive agreement will open a new chapter of ties between the countries.

He also said that cooperation between Iran and China in the fight against COVID-19 has had great results and has drawn a bright horizon in fighting the outbreak.

He wished the Chinese officials health and success and the people of China prosperity and felicity.

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According To Iran News, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday China has all along acted with openness, transparency and responsibility in the fight against COVID-19.

Xi made the remarks when delivering a speech via video link Monday in Beijing at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly.

“In China, after making painstaking efforts and enormous sacrifice, we have turned the tide on the virus and protected the life and health of our people,” Xi said. “All along, we have acted with openness, transparency and responsibility”, Xinhua news agency reported.

“We have provided information to WHO and relevant countries in a most timely fashion. We have released the genome sequence at the earliest possible time,” he said.

“We have shared control and treatment experience with the world without reservation. We have done everything in our power to support and assist countries in need,” Xi added.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani and his Chinese counterpart have slammed the U.S. sanctions against the other countries while the deadly coronavirus has crippled people across the world.

President Rouhani said the world is in a situation where everyone needs help, but some people continue their unlawful and inhumane sanctions.

In a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, Rouhani expressed hope that with the efforts and countering measures of countries like China, people see a world without sanctions.

Rouhani went on to point to the US interfering behavior, calling such actions a threat to security, peace and stability in the region.

“For Iran, the security of the region and waterways is important, but unfortunately, the risky behavior of the United States may disrupt the stability of the Persian Gulf region,” he underlined.

In turn, the Chinese president Xi Jinping denounced the continuation of U.S. sanctions and its insistence on maximum pressure against Iran. He stated that unfortunately, some countries are seeking political benefits in these conditions, but China is ready to observe international regulations.

He further thanked the Islamic Republic for its assistance amid the outbreak of the coronavirus in China and announced Beijing’s readiness to continue to help Iran contain the virus.

“The drop in the number of patients and deaths, and at the same time the increase in the number of recovering people in Iran show that the treatment programs have been useful and their implementation has been accurate,” noted the Chinese president.

Referring to the initiative of the Islamic Republic called “Hormuz Peace Endeavour”, the Chinese President said this plan is very useful for the security of the region. He added that the security of the Persian Gulf is essential for the international peace and stability.

In this telephone conversation, the two sides also called the relations between Iran and China strategic and special, saying that all-out bilateral trade ties are promising. Rouhani and Xi also called for further development of relations with the implementation of bilateral agreements and carrying out joint infrastructure projects.

The presidents of Iran and China further expressed sympathy and solidarity over the loss of a number of citizens due to COVID-19 disease and wished success in controlling the pandemic.

In the end, they also touched upon boosting health relations between Tehran and Beijing to confront the coronavirus and exchange of experiences and research achievements.

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According To Iran News, Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Friday that he hopes the United States will take substantive action to improve bilateral ties, China’s foreign ministry said.

Xi also told Trump that cooperation between their countries was the only correct choice and China was willing to support the United States in dealing with the coronavirus, according to an account of the conversation published by the Chinese ministry.

The call came amid a long-running war of words between Beijing and Washington over various issues including the coronavirus epidemic, which emerged in China late last year and has spread globally.

Trump and other top US officials have accused China of a lack of transparency on the virus, which has killed more than 24,000 globally, angering China.

Xi reiterated to Trump during the call that China had been open and transparent about the epidemic, which has infected more than 80,000 people in China.

Xi offered support to the United States, which now has more coronavirus infections than China.

Trump said on Twitter that he discussed the coronavirus outbreak “in great detail” with Xi, Reuters reported.

He refrained from more combative words such as referring to the virus as a “Chinese virus”, which he has been doing.

“China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the virus,” Trump said. “We are working closely together. Much respect!”

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According To Iran News, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country would continue to provide as much assistance as it can for Iran in the fight against the outbreak of the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.

In a message sent to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Xi expressed heartfelt sympathies to the Iranian government and people over the epidemic on behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xinhua reported.

Stressing that China and Iran are strategic partners and their people enjoy a traditional friendship, Xi noted that the Iranian government and people have provided sincere and friendly support and help for China’s fight against the epidemic.

Meanwhile, to help Iran beat the disease, China has offered Iran a batch of anti-epidemic supplies and sent a team of voluntary health experts, Xi said.

China stands ready to step up cooperation with Iran to contain the epidemic, Xi said, adding that he is confident that the Iranian government and people will surely win the battle against the outbreak.

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According To Iran News, In a telephone conversation on Wednesday, President of France Emmanuel Macron andd Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Iran nuclear deal.

According to the Global Times, the two sides exchanged views on a number of issues, including China-France ties and Iran nuclear deal.

Last week, France, Britain, and Germany announced their decision to trigger the dispute mechanism in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – a step that could lead to the restoration of UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The E3 said the measure was in response to Iran’s reductions of its commitments to the JCPOA, which in turn was a reaction to the US’ withdrawal from the nuclear deal and EU’s failure to find practical ways to shield mutual trade from the US sanctions.

The JCPOA lifted nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the UN and some other signatories of the deal, particularly the US.

The Islamic Republic, in return, voluntarily changed some aspects of its nuclear program. The agreement was later ratified in the form of Security Council 2231, which terminated previous UN resolutions against the Islamic Republic.

Bowing to Washington’s pressure, the three remaining European signatories failed to protect Tehran’s business interests under the deal after the US’s withdrawal and started to tow Washington’s sanction line.

Consequently, Iran began in May 2019 to gradually reduce its commitments under the JCPOA to both retaliate for Washington’s departure and prompt the European trio to respect their obligations towards Tehran.

The E3, however, refuted the argument that Iran is entitled to reduce compliance with the JCPOA and they eventually decided to activate the trigger mechanism.

Referring to activation of trigger mechanism by E3, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on January 20, said that Iran will leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if EU takes Iran’s nuclear to UN Security Council.

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According To Iran News, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump have been in continuous touch through “various means”, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday, when asked when and where the two leaders might meet to ink a trade deal.

Trump on Friday suggested he could sign a long-awaited trade agreement with China in the farm state of Iowa, which has been hard hit by tariffs in a nearly 16-month trade war between the world’s largest economies.

Trump said on Friday evening that negotiations about a “phase one” agreement were going well and he hoped to sign the deal with Xi at a US location when work on the agreement was completed.

China has so far not been drawn on when and where Xi may go to meet Trump, apart from saying it was “pure speculation” they could meet in the Chinese gambling hub of Macau.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang was equally taciturn on Monday.

 “As for a meeting between the leaders of China and the United States, what I can say is that President Xi Jinping and President Trump have maintained continuous contact through various means,“ he told a daily news briefing, without elaborating, Reuters reported.

US and Chinese negotiators have been racing to finalize a text of a “phase one” agreement for Trump and Xi to sign this month, a process clouded by wrangling over US demands for a timetable of Chinese purchases of US farm products.

A critical date is Dec 15, when new US tariffs on Chinese imports such as laptops, toys and electronics are set to kick in. Both the United States and China have an interest in reaching a deal and averting those tariffs.

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Xi is on a two-day state visit to North Korea, which is facing sanctions by the UN. This is the first visit by any Chinese leader in 14 years.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, top diplomat and a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee Yang Jiechi and key economic adviser He Lifeng are also part of Xi’s delegation.

The visit assumes significance, as it comes a week ahead of Xi’s planned meeting with the US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan. Analysts believe that Chinese president’s trip could portend some movement in the stalled nuclear talks between North Korea and the US.

The talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Trump ended abruptly in Hanoi last February, with the two sides failing to reach a deal.

A report by the South China Morning Post said that both leaders will discuss denuclearization process of Korean peninsula, Anadolu Agency reported.

“The economic cooperation could be on the agenda,” the report said mentioning that China’s head of the National Development and Reform Commission He Lifeng is also part of the Chinese delegation.

Xi’s visit is fifth by any Chinese leader, ever since Beijing and Pyongyang established diplomatic relations in 1949. The two neighboring countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

US President Donald Trump has shown personal interest in talking to Kim, holding two summits in less than a year since June 2018.

An analysis put out by Chinese official news agency Xinhua said China could play a unique and constructive role in breaking the cycle of mistrust between North Korea and the US, so they can work out a roadmap to achieve denuclearization.

The US is demanding that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons development before international sanctions are lifted. North Korea is seeking a step-by-step approach. It has been demanding that its steps towards denuclearization should be matched by concessions from the US that included relaxation of economic sanctions.

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Washington later slapped additional tariffs of up to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Chinese vice Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui said China opposed the use of “big sticks” like trade sanctions, tariffs and protectionism.

 “We oppose a trade war but are not afraid of a trade war. This kind of deliberately provoking trade disputes is naked economic terrorism, economic homicide, economic bullying,” Zhang said, when asked about the trade war with the United States, Reuters reported.

Everyone loses in a trade war, he added, addressing a briefing on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia next week, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and speak at a major investor forum in St Petersburg.

“This trade clash will have a serious negative effect on global economic development and recovery,” Zhang added.

 “We will definitely properly deal with all external challenges, do our own thing well, develop our economy, and continue to raise the living standards of our two peoples,” he said, referring to China and Russia.

 “At the same time, we have the confidence, resolve and ability to safeguard our country’s sovereignty, security, respect and security and development interests.”

From combative missives in state media and patriotic fervor on social media, to a mobilization of ambassadors around the world to get its message out, China has intensified its criticism of Washington since the United States this month moved to increase tariffs on Chinese imports and blacklisted tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.

On Thursday, a broadcaster from Chinese state television and a Fox Business host staged an unprecedented live debate about the China-US frictions on the US cable network.

Over the past two weeks, China has hinted that it may use its dominant position as an exporter of rare earths to the United States as leverage in the trade war. Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements used in everything from high-tech consumer electronics to military equipment.

On Thursday, the state-run China Daily newspaper said “it would be naive to think that China does not have other countermeasures apart from rare earths to hand”.

“As Chinese officials have reiterated, they have a ‘tool box’ large enough to fix any problem that may arise as trade tensions escalate, and they are ready to fight back ‘at any cost’,” it said in an editorial.

China has consistently rebuffed US complaints about lack of access to its economy for foreign companies, forced technology transfers and intellectual property protection, and repeatedly promised further economic reforms.

Speaking at a separate forum in Beijing, Wang Zhaoxing, a vice chairman of China’s banking and insurance regulator, said the last four decades of the country’s economic reforms have shown that “openness brings progress, shutting off brings backwardness”.

 “It is undeniable that the current economic globalization has indeed encountered some new problems and new challenges,” Wang said. “However, the solution is not to return to protectionism and unilateralism.”

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