China-Iran cooperation

When the China-Iran comprehensive strategic agreement was inked, it stood as a testament to Beijing’s long-term investment in a close Middle East ally. Plenty of high-level engagements have gathered pace since, allowing Tehran to look at the prospect of long-desired development and energy gains in the region and beyond.

At present, Beijing’s desire to balance its relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran appear to be a masterstroke of diplomacy. China has intelligently compartmentalised the nature of its engagements with both the powers, and sends a message of assurance to Tehran that the spirit of their 25-year agreement stands to benefit even further.

Look no further than the high-level meeting between Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua. The latter reaffirmed Beijing’s resolve to develop strategic ties with Iran, and strengthened the case for implementing the China-Iran comprehensive cooperation plan. The visit speaks of Iran’s significance in China’s Middle East diplomacy, as the former continues to serve as a key player for collective security and regional economic development in West Asia. The high-level consensus to jointly advance China-Iran comprehensive cooperation is a step in the right direction, and will allow both partners to cement their stakes in peaceful development with significant resolve.

For one, the agreement in itself illuminates new possibilities for practical Sino-Iranian cooperation in various fields. Among potential areas of broad-based engagement are joint ventures in productive oil and gas reserve spaces. A number of deals have reportedly been inked during Hu’s visit, and China’s record-setting oil purchases in earlier months render energy cooperation as the need of the hour for sure. The formalisation of joint energy initiatives also highlights the “complementariness” of China and Iran’s economic potentials, as reflected in their 2016 comprehensive partnership roadmap from earlier years. Thus, due emphasis on strategically viable sectors makes it important to strengthen their comprehensive partnership roadmap, regardless of changes in the international environment.

The message from Iran is that it remains deeply committed to forward-looking strategic progress with China, and that there are no doubts in that process. Recent communications between heads of states have also given more weight to the speedy implementation of the Sino-Iranian comprehensive cooperation plan, allowing high-level visits to build off that momentum. Given the outsized significance of energy cooperation to their bilateral ties, China is correct to prioritize Iran’s self-sufficiency and joint capacity-building numerous times in the energy space. All this effectively bolsters what Raisi described as “all-round cooperation.”

Understand that high-level consultations and discussions played a key role in cementing the comprehensive cooperation agreement in March last year. To this end, Hu’s visit to Tehran came with a significant trade and economic delegation to engage Iranian counterparts on all levels, and further bilateral trust. “China views its ties with Iran from a strategic perspective and will not waver in its determination to develop their comprehensive strategic partnership,” affirmed Hu.

It is now in the chief interests of both the partners to formalise a time table for the successful implementation of the 25-year agreement. Substantial policy traction in both capitals makes such follow-up action highly favourable and opportune at present.

Interestingly, Beijing’s role as a constructive force for peace in the Middle East continues to be well-received in Tehran. It reflects in the views of Allaedin Boroujerdi, the Iran-China friendship association chief, who made a fundamental point clear: that China’s improved relations with other countries in the region were not at odds with Iran’s interests. This has been a wrong assumption on the part of some casual China-Iran observers, because the true strength of their ties stems from broad-ranging development and energy interests. China continues to invest in such diplomatic support towards Tehran as well, given Beijing’s firm opposition to external interference, and its support for safeguarding Iran’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity.”

Joint pushback against external irritants is important to promote a long-term view of their traditional bilateral friendship, which has put a premium on the “strategic significance” of their own interests – and not the interests of any third party.

Hu’s visit should also be seen as a further consolidation of mutual political trust between China and Iran, particularly when such exchanges have resulted in the promotion of Iran’s constructive role on key multilateral forums. Look no further than the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Iran’s emergence as a full-member has given way to stronger developmental and economic coordination with China, including increased trade integration and investment potential. All this gives regional momentum and future traction to their 25-year partnership plan, as it moves towards accelerated implementation on several levels.

Taken together, Hu’s visit is a powerful reminder that deepening political trust, strong energy cooperation, and high-level consultations are integral to the success of Sino-Iranian strategic engagement. Given that the cooperation plan stretches over a 25-year period, frequent high-level exchanges are not just mutually advantageous, but necessary.

The writer is a foreign affairs commentator and recipient of the Fulbright Award