Iran set to enhance relations with China

Iran's new administration looks forward to enhancing relations with China and others as the country rides on fruits of cooperation from the first year of membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, according to officials and diplomats.

Nasser Kanaani, spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in Monday's news conference that Iran would continue to pursue mutual relations with China, one of the most important countries in the world.

Commenting on the future of the relations between Teheran and Beijing in view of Masoud Pezeshkian's election as Iran's new president, Kanaani expressed hope that Iran's relations with friendly countries, including China, would be further promoted.

He said Iran's foreign policy was based on promoting constructive interaction with all those countries that were ready to, in a reciprocal and constructive approach while observing mutual respect, work toward the expansion of bilateral ties, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"China and Iran are both important developing countries and both adhere to true multilateralism," Chinese Ambassador to Iran Cong Peiwu said in an article in the Tehran Times on Monday.

"Since Iran successfully joined the SCO one year ago, it has actively participated in various cooperation under the SCO framework and achieved fruitful results," Cong said.

Iran's entry into the SCO has injected new vitality into it, which is in line with the expectations of the international community and the common interests of emerging market countries and developing countries, he said.

China stands ready to work with Iran and other SCO partners under the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, enhance solidarity and mutual trust, build consensus on cooperation, expand cooperation across the board, actively participate in global governance, and advance the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative to "contribute more SCO strength to the lasting peace and common prosperity" of the world, according to Cong.

Speaking at the SCO Green Development Forum held in Qingdao on Monday, Ali Salajegheh, head of Iran's Department of Environment, said that SCO members using their capacities can make a difference for green development in the region, as well as become a perfect model for environmental cooperation at the global level, according to IRNA news agency.

"Developing countries should make sure of their social and economic development as the main priority, because the fight against poverty and the development of health and the provision of housing and energy is still a significant part of the developing world," Salajegheh said.

Spokesman Kanaani further spoke about promoting cultural, trade and political relations with neighboring countries, and resuming ties with some regional states with which the country's relations had been severed.

Pezeshkian, a reformist and former health minister, was declared president on Saturday following a runoff election against principlist Saeed Jalili.

Xinhua contributed to this story.