Referring to Raeisi’s recent visit to China, the Iranian deputy minister of science in international affairs said that plans have been made to spread the Persian and Chinese languages through granting scholarships.
Speaking in an interview with Mehr News Agency, Vahid Haddadi-Asl said that so far, China and Iran have not been able to use each other’s capacities and potential well.
Referring to President Raeisi’s recent visit to China, Haddadi-Asl said that currently, the relations between the two countries are at a good level.
During the meeting, the Iranian president expressed Iran’s readiness to expand bilateral educational cooperation with the Chinese side.
The Iranian deputy minister further added that in this regard, necessary plans have been made to spread the Persian language in China and the Chinese language in Iran through granting scholarships.
Regarding the field of technology, the country has been able to establish good cooperation in the field of technology parks, he added.
It was earlier reported that, Iran and China signed 20 cooperation agreements in different fields during President Ebrahim Raisi’s three-day visit to Beijing, his office said.
The agreements are part of the 25-year comprehensive cooperation pact between the two countries signed in 2021, which is the focus of Raisi’s visit, the first state visit by an Iranian president to China in 20 years.
In his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Raisi said the implementation of the long-term strategic pact was key to “regional security,” his office said in a statement.
He called Iran and China “friends in difficult times,” reaffirming his country’s commitment to expanding relations with Beijing.
For his part, Xi said Beijing will “resolutely maintain its friendship and cooperation with Iran” and “advance the comprehensive strategic partnership,” his office said in a statement.
He expressed willingness to expand cooperation with Iran in the areas of trade, agriculture, industry and infrastructure.
Xi also pledged support to efforts aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, which has hit a deadlock over key sticking points and fresh tensions between Iran and the West.
On Monday, before departing for China, Raisi wrote an op-ed in a Chinese state newspaper, condemning “unjust sanctions” and “unilateralism,” referring to them as main causes of crisis and insecurity in the world.
Importantly, the visit comes under the shadow of recent tensions between Tehran and Beijing fueled by a joint statement by China and the Gulf Cooperation Council in December, which angered Iran.
The statement had called on Iran to “ensure the peaceful nature” of its nuclear program, and “respect for the principles of good-neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.”
It also backed the UAE’s demand for the “resolution of the dispute” over the three Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, riling up Tehran.
