News - Middle East: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian urges enhanced cooperation with China in international fields, saying it is important that the two countries maintain close contact in this regard.

In a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, Amir-Abdollahian and External Security Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Cheng Guoping discussed the latest developments pertaining to the implementation of a 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between the two sides.

Iran and China signed the landmark agreement in March last year in defiance of the US’s unilateral sanctions, in a move aimed at bolstering their long-standing economic and political alliance.

The deal officially documents the Sino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that had been announced during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to boost economic cooperation between the two countries for the next 25 years, and paves the way for Iran’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure project stretching from East Asia to Europe.

Beijing has long sought to boost ties with Tehran, with President Xi describing Iran as “China’s major partner in the Middle East” on a rare visit to the country in 2016.

Iran and China started implementing the deal during the Iranian foreign minister's visit to Beijing in January.

Cheng, for his part, commended growing strategic ties between Iran and China and invited Amir-Abdollahian on behalf of his Chinese counterpart to pay a visit to Beijing.

The top Iranian diplomat and Chinese diplomat also exchanged views about ways to promote regional and international cooperation and issues of common interests.