Message from Iranian Ambassador to China

On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I have great pleasure to convey, on behalf of myself and the members of the Iranian Embassy in Beijing, my brotherly sentiments and cordial wishes for the Chinese government, and for the prosperity and well-being of the noble nation of China.

Having the honor and the joy of being in China for the fruitful fulfillment of my noble mission, I can assure my earnest desire to contribute with untiring efforts to further strengthen the ties so happily binding the two countries. We shall undertake this great task with complete confidence, hoping to benefit from the precious support of the government and people of China.

Fervently peace-loving, upholding the principle of territorial integrity and national sovereignty of all nations, as well as peaceful co-existence and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and pursuing an independent national policy, my government believes in international cooperation based upon the principles of the United Nations Charter. And it uses all of its national, political, economic and cultural capabilities to eliminate regional and international problems and help the peaceful development of our nation and of other countries.

In nuclear issue, Iran reaffirms that is still fully committed to non-proliferation treaty and elimination of nuclear weapons and will continue to abide by its obligations under NPT and will continue to work actively for the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

Iran and China share the same standpoint on major regional and international issues, which developing countries pay a lot of attention to. In bilateral relations, both countries have their own advantages and are highly complementary to each other.

Our bilateral ties will enter their 37th year in 2008. Cooperation between Iran and China is increasing year by year and the volume of bilateral trade has increased 140 times in 28 years, reaching $20 billion in 2007. The two nations have signed various memorandums of understanding and contracts for long-term cooperation in energy and petrochemical projects.

Both countries have also been cradles of great civilizations and contributed greatly to the advancement of civilization in Asia and the world.

Iran and China have known each other for more than 1,000 years through the Silk Road. So there is great potential for both sides to join hands for the development of cultural exchange, and thus renew the centuries-old bonds.

In terms of regional cooperation, China recognizes the significance of strategic, geo-strategic and geo-economic role of Iran in the region.

The two countries have common grounds and identical views on many regional and global issues and believe in working together to secure and promote peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole.

Iran, as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) observer, has its own economic strength and favorable geographical conditions, and it plays an important role in the achievement of SCO objectives.

In international cooperation, Iran and China have broadened cooperation in the UN and other regional and international organizations based on mutual respect and trust, and on common good will.

They hold shared views on the principles of peaceful development and have taken effective measures to promote regional and international organizations.

Iran fully supports multilateralism and emphasizes the necessity of the rule of democracy in the international community.

The government of Iran reiterates the importance of equality and justice in international relations, an attitude that China shares.

We believe justice can be the keystone for peace, tranquility and development. In other words, injustice can be the root cause of many challenges facing our present world such as poverty, violence, terrorism and conflicts, whose adverse consequences will aggravate and affect all people globally.

The Islamic Republic of Iran celebrates its 29th anniversary in February 2008, which is coincident with the Chinese traditional spring festival.

Maintaining world peace and enhancing mutual development are tasks that we should shoulder together.

My government and people will continue to maintain close cooperation with China, and I am hopeful that the bonds of friendship that have tied our two countries together will continue to be strengthened and our two great ancient nations will have a much better and brighter future.

This year we will also have the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing -the symbol of peace and harmony in the world. The Islamic Republic of Iran prays for the success and prosperity of the government and people of China on the occasion of this great event.

(China Daily 02/18/2008 page13)