Page 9 - MEOG Week 07 2023

MEOG POLICY & SECURITY MEOG

Iran’s president pays ‘Look

to the East’ visit to Beijing

IRAN EBRAHIM Raisi is paying his first visit as Iran’s as more like a roadmap to potential deals worth
president to Beijing, with the start of the occa- billions of dollars rather than as a document
sion on February 14 receiving all the pomp and guaranteeing market openings for China. One
ceremony of an official state visit, Hamshahri element of it would see China invest big sums in
newspaper has reported. Iran’s petroleum sector in return for oil, oil prod-
The three-day visit follows the December visit uct and petrochemical supplies.g
to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab states The Associated Press reported that the official
by Chinese President Xi Jinping that caused Chinese account of Xi’s meeting with Raisi gave
much upset in Tehran. Xi signed significant no indication of whether they discussed Russia’s
deals with Iran’s Gulf arch-rival Saudi Arabia and attack on Ukraine, while Xi expressed support
supported some claims made by GCC member for Raisi’s government in language Beijing uses
states in relation to the sovereignty of some Gulf to criticise Washington’s domination of global
islands that are part of present-day Iran. Many affairs. China and Iran portray themselves,
Iranians frowned on the development as Iran’s alongside Moscow, as counterweights to Amer-
Arab neighbours are usually seen as on better ican power.
terms with the US and other Western countries, “China supports Iran in safeguarding
while Iran relies on China as an ally that, for national sovereignty” and “resisting unilateral-
instance, imports Iranian oil despite Washing- ism and bullying,” Xi said in a statement carried
ton’s sanctions, albeit at generous discounts. by Chinese state TV on its website.
In Beijing, Raisi is heading a high-level dele- Xi added that Beijing “opposes external forces
gation comprising of the ministers of oil, finance, interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and under-
transport, agriculture, industry and foreign mining Iran’s security and stability,” according
affairs as well as the country’s top nuclear nego- to the government statement. It also stated that
tiator and the central bank governor. Xi pledged to “work together on issues involving
As the visit got under way, Iranian state-run each other’s core interests,” but gave no details.
IRNA news agency reported that 20 memoranda Ahead of his visit, Raisi wrote an editorial in
of understanding (MoUs) were signed by the two China’s state-controlled People’s Daily in which
sides. They covered fields including trade, agri- he said both countries believed that unilateral-
culture, information technology, health care, the ism and “violent” measures such as the imposi-
environment and tourism. tion of “unjust” sanctions were the main causes
Officials were also expecting to ink a key of crises and insecurity in the world. In the edito-
$12bn transport agreement that would allow rial, Raisi described China as an “old friend”, and
Chinese investment in a high-speed rail link pro- said Iran’s efforts to strengthen relations would
ject connecting the northeastern Iranian city of be unaffected by regional and international
Mashhad with Tehran. Major Chinese projects situations.
in the development of Iran’s strategic southeast Xi Jinping also on February 14 called for the
Makran coast were thought to be on the agenda early and proper resolution of the Iran nuclear
as well. issue, while expressing his support and solidar-
Under Iran’s “Look to the East” policy, which ity for the Islamic Republic in safeguarding its
advocates building up links with the Russian, rights and interests, according to Chinese state
Chinese and other Eastern markets in the face of media. China would continue to “participate
Western sanctions that exclude other trade and constructively” in talks to resume negotiations
investment, Tehran in 2021 signed a 25-year on implementing the 2015 nuclear deal, or
strategic cooperation deal with China. How- JCPOA, between Iran and major powers, Xi told
ever, it generated considerable criticism among Raisi during their talks.
many Iranians, especially along the lines that The JCPOA was agreed to limit Iran’s ura-
Iran should stay wary of allowing Beijing to “col- nium enrichment programme to civilian pur-
onise” parts of Iran’s economy and interests. So poses in return for a lifting of international
far, the agreement appears to have been treated sanctions.™

Week 07 15•February•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P9