China And Iran Deepen Ties As Sanctions End

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has praised China for standing by Tehran while it was under international sanctions, saying the Islamic Republic never trusted the West.

Khamenei's comments on Saturday came as the two countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to $600bn over the next decade after a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Iran was keen to expand ties with "more independent countries", Khamenei told Xi, adding the US was "not honest" in the fight against armed groups in the region.

Iran emerged from years of economic isolation this month when the United Nations' nuclear watchdog ruled it had curbed its nuclear programme, clearing the way for the lifting of UN, US and European Union sanctions.

Xi, whose three-nation regional tour has already taken him to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional rival, became the first Chinese leader to visit the Islamic Republic in 14 years.

Following a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also on Saturday, Xi said he hoped to open a "new chapter" in relations with Iran in the post-sanctions era.

China is Iran's biggest trade partner and had continued buying oil from Iran after nuclear-related sanctions were tightened in 2012, despite US pressure.

Trade between the two countries stood at some $52bn in 2014, but that figure dropped last year due to plunging oil prices. 

Officials from Iran and China signed 17 documents and letters of intent to broaden bilateral cooperation in energy, industry, transportation, railways, ports, new technology, tourism and the environment.


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