News - Middle East: President Xi Jinping says China is willing to boost cooperation with Iran on BRICS and other platforms, hours after the group of emerging economies formally invited the Islamic Republic to become a full member.

At the beginning of a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS leaders' summit in the South African city of Johannesburg on Thursday, Xi congratulated Iran on becoming a member of the group.

"China is ready to consolidate friendship and deepen mutual trust with the Iranian side and to continue to support each other on issues of mutual core interests," state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) quoted the Chinese president as saying.

China's Xinhua news agency also said Xi told his Iranian counterpart that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Iran so as to push for healthy and robust development of multilateralism.
Raeisi, for his part, said Iran is ready to give a boost to its bilateral cooperation with China and help enhance multilateralism, stressing that Iran's membership in BRICS would also strengthen the core approaches of the group, including opposition to the US unilateralism.  
Referring to the agreements already signed between Tehran and Beijing, the Iranian president stressed the need for the enforcement of a 25-year comprehensive deal between the two countries.  
'Wonderful meeting' with PM Modi 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held wide-ranging talks with President Raeisi, during which they reviewed bilateral ties including in areas of trade and investment, energy, connectivity, counter-terrorism, and Afghanistan.
"Had a wonderful meeting with President Ebrahim Raeisi. I am glad that Iran will be joining BRICS. Discussed ways to deepen trade and cultural cooperation between India and Iran," Modi said in a post on platform X.