Beijing, January 8th—Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with a delegation of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council led by Ali Agha Mohammadi, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran and an advisor on Economic Affairs to Iran's Supreme Leader. 

Liu said, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Iranian leaders, China-Iran relations have maintained steady development. The CPC appreciates the positive role played by the Expediency Discernment Council in promoting China-Iran relations and is willing to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. Taking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, the two sides should enhance strategic communication, deepen exchanges and mutual learning of experience in state governance and administration, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each others’ core interests and major concerns, promote exchanges and cooperation between think tanks, media and non-governmental organizations of the two countries, carry out dialogues among civilizations, enhance people-to-people bonds, and closely coordinate and cooperate in international and regional affairs to jointly promote the new and greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Iran. China is willing to deepen the alignment of its 15th Five-Year Plan with Iran's development plans to open up broader prospects for China-Iran cooperation. 

Agha Mohammadi said, Iran and China are comprehensive strategic partners, and the Expediency Discernment Council attaches great importance to developing relations with China. Iran firmly supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity and is willing to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhance high-level exchanges and communication and coordination, increase mutual understanding and trust, deepen practical cooperation in economy and trade, energy, emerging industries, connectivity, cultural and tourism fields, and promote the new development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China. The two countries share the same or similar positions on international and regional affairs, and Iran is grateful for China's support. The Expediency Discernment Council is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the IDCPC and continue to make efforts to promote the development of Iran-China relations. 

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest. 

Jin Xin, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, and Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Ambassador of Iran to China, were present.