Iran, China Keen to Broaden Bilateral Ties

(FNA)- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday underlined the need for the further expansion of bilateral ties.

During the meeting in the Chinese capital today, Rahimpour and Wang explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating mutual cooperation.

Rahimpour is in China to meet with senior Chinese officials to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister also met his Chinese counterpart and Chinese deputy finance minister and reviewed main areas and opportunities for the two countries' cooperation.

Iran is currently China's third largest supplier of crude, providing Beijing with roughly 12 percent of its total annual oil consumption.

Earlier this month, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Pang Sen called for the further consolidation of economic ties between Qom Province in Central Iran and Gansu Province in the Northwestern parts of China.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an exhibition on investment, agriculture and industrial capacities of Gansu province held in Qom on August 10-11, the two sides underlined the need for utilization of economic capacities and capabilities of the two countries and seizing the opportunity for development of trade relations,

"I hope that by establishing interaction between businessmen and industrialist of Iran and China, specially in Qom and Gansu provinces, the two countries would develop sustainable relations in different areas," Larijani said.

"The future of trade and economic relations between the two provinces of Qom and Gansu would be bright and promising," Pang said.