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Iran Broadens Relations in Quest of Regional Stability
2 November 2014
EIRNS— Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of Beijing Foreign Ministerial Conference of "the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan" on Oct. 31 that the Islamic Republic seeks to establish strategic relations with Beijing. The Zarif said Iran placed great importance on developing relations and expects to further deepen friendly cooperation with China. He expressed appreciation for the unique and important role China played in the Iranian nuclear issue. Chinese State Counsellor Yang Jiechi referred to several meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during the past year and said the two countries have maintained close contact at high level and steady growth of practical cooperation. Yang said China was ready to work with Iran to advance bilateral relations, and pointed out that it is the opportune time for all relevant parties to seize the current momentum and work toward a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue at the earliest possible date. The remarks came as talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, France, Britain, China, Russia—plus Germany, move to a final deal to end the longstanding dispute over the Islamic Republic’s civilian nuclear work before the Nov. 24 deadline. Zarif arrived in Beijing on Oct. 30. He addressed the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan meeting and held talks with new Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, and Yang Jiechi, with foreign ministers from Pakistani, Turkmenistan and Turkey, and a number of other officials. Istanbul Process is an agreement reached in 2011 by 14 regional and 16 extra- regional countries, as well as 12 international organizations. According to the agreement, the members should do their best to establish security and stability in Afghanistan. The Istanbul Process has had three meetings so far, two of them in Turkey and one in Tajikistan. Ramtanu Maitra |