Chinese PM Reiterates Iran’s Important Int’l Role

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underscored Iran’s important role in the Muslim world and in the international community.

“Iran is traditional friend of China and expansion of relations with Tehran is important for Beijing; Iran is an important player in the international community and Muslim world; Iran and China should expand their relations strategically to secure the interest of both nations; China is committed to develop relations with Tehran in the fields of energy, airspace, reconstruction of Silk Road as well as the use of national currencies in bilateral trade exchanges,” Jiabao said.

Wen Jiabao added that world equations have changed and militarism is not the solution of world problems.

He opined that China supports Afghanistan stability in collaboration with the international community and its neighbors, including Iran.

The meeting between Ahmadinejad and Jiabao was held on the sidelines of the 12th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing.

Beijing is hosting the 12th SCO Summit from June 6-7, which is expected to map out the future of this influential organization that brings together Russia and China, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the energy-rich Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.