Iran- China Joint Economic Cooperation Session Starts In Tehran

Tehran, Feb 22, IRNA – The 15th session of Iran-China Joint Economic Cooperation Committee opened in Tehran on Friday. During the session, director- general of foreign relations department of Iran’s Organization for Investment and Economic and Technical Assistance Sadeq Akbari referred to longstanding relations between Iran and China and said the two countries share the same views in different international organizations. Urging both countries to make use of abundant potentials for cooperation, Akbari said Iran attaches special significance to expansion of relations with China in different fields, including politics, economy, science, industry and culture. The official noted that trade between Iran and China in 2012 stood at $13.6 billion, of which $3.5 billion was Iranˈs exports to China. He also put bilateral trade in 2013 at $15 billion. He called for a long term plan of cooperation between Tehran and Beijing so as to maintain bilateral economic activities and prepare the ground for partnership of private sectors of both countries. In the meantime, the head of the Chinese delegation said leaders of the two countries are determined to promote bilateral relations. The Chinese official said that cooperation between Iran and China on infrastructural projects, auto-making, oil and gas has increased in recent years. During the session, experts from Iran and China will be active in four committees, namely economic and trade cooperation, investment in infrastructural projects, finance and banking issues, and provincial cooperation./end