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Middle East
ChinaDiplomacy

China’s Xi Jinping set for Iran state visit as Ebrahim Raisi closes ‘fruitful’ Beijing trip

  • Chinese president ‘gladly accepted’ invitation from Iranian counterpart, joint statement following Ebrahim Raisi’s visit says
  • Both nations reaffirm ‘strong mutual support’ and blame the US for problems arising from the stalled Iran nuclear deal

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Chinese President Xi Jinping accompanies Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as he is given a guard of honour ahead of their talks in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Laura Zhou
Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Iran, the two countries announced in a joint statement, as Iranian leader Ebrahim Raisi wrapped up his first official trip to Beijing.
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Xi “gladly accepted the invitation” from the Iranian president, the statement said, but did not give any date for the visit. Xi’s last visit to Iran was in 2016 as part of a tour of the region.

This came as Raisi on Thursday closed his own three-day state visit to China, the first trip to the country by an Iranian president since 2018.

His visit saw the two strategic partners pledge to strengthen political, economic, security and agricultural ties, in the latest display of strong bonds as tensions with the US escalate for both.

China and Iran also reaffirmed “strong mutual support” on issues of core interest, according to Thursday’s statement.

03:11

China, Iran pledge to deepen cooperation as both grapple with strained US ties

China, Iran pledge to deepen cooperation as both grapple with strained US ties

“China is firmly opposed to external forces interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and undermining Iran’s security and stability, and the Iranian side will continue to pursue the one-China policy,” it said.

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