Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with visiting Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and called for stronger cooperation to boost ties.
Xi commended the enduring friendship between China and Iran, saying China's determination to develop its comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran will stay unchanged despite changes on the global and regional arenas.
He called on both sides to deepen mutual trust and advance communication and coordination, increase cooperation on security and anti-terrorism, and improve cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides should work together to accelerate the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.
Hailing legislative exchanges as a significant part of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, the Chinese president pointed out that China's National People's Congress should reinforce cooperation with the Iranian Parliament and learn from each other's experiences of governance so as to play a bigger role in boosting bilateral ties.
Xi also expressed China's support for Iran to play a constructive role in regional peace and stability in the Middle East and willingness to maintain close contact with Iran on regional issues.
Larijani extended greetings from the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani to President Xi and said Iran views its relations with China from a strategic and long-term perspective.
He confirmed that Iran-China friendship not only conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries but also bears significance for peace and prosperity of Asia and the world.
He echoed President Xi by expressing Iran's willingness to further boost political trust and pragmatic collaboration between the two countries.