President Xi says dialogue is path to lasting peace in meeting with Iranian president

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday that the use of force is not the way to resolve disputes, and that communication and dialogue are the proper path to lasting peace.

Pezeshkian is in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

During their talks, Xi pointed out that China-Iran relations have withstood the test of shifting international circumstances and continue to develop in a steady and healthy way, adding the two sides have achieved notable results across multiple areas of cooperation since the two leaders' Kazan meeting last year.

Noting China places the development of relations with Iran at a key position in its Middle East diplomacy, Xi said China is willing to continue fostering friendship, deepening mutual trust, and enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, clean energy, connectivity and cultural exchanges, working together to ensure the steady advancement of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi also highlighted China's Global Governance Initiative (GGI), expressing the willingness to work with Iran and the international community to promote a fairer and more equitable global governance system and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Regarding Iran's nuclear program, Xi reiterated that China values Tehran's repeated commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, respects Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy use, and supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and dignity.  

China will continue to act as a fair mediator, striving to facilitate a solution to the Iran nuclear issue that addresses the reasonable concerns of all parties and contributes to lasting peace in the Middle East, he added.

Pezeshkian congratulated China on the successful hosting of the SCO Tianjin Summit. He noted that during China's tenure as rotating chair, political trust among member states has strengthened and cooperation across sectors has made positive progress.

He expressed Iran's willingness to deepen cooperation within the SCO framework and reaffirmed that Iran highly values its comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

Regardless of changing international circumstances, Iran remains committed to friendly relations with China and further expanding bilateral cooperation, the Iranian president stressed.

He also voiced full support for China's GGI, underscoring its significance in promoting a more just and equitable international order, and expressed Iran's readiness to work closely with China to oppose unilateralism and power politics, maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, and ensure the GGI's practical implementation.