Tehran: China’s Ambassador to Iran, Cong Peiwu, said China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity and in defending its legitimate rights and interests through political negotiations.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, in an op-ed submitted to IRNA’s English News Desk on Wednesday, Peiwu, who started his mission in the Islamic Republic in May 2024, discussed the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and Iran’s nuclear program.
Peiwu said the 2025 SCO Summit was held in Tianjin and produced a series of outcomes, including the Tianjin Declaration and an SCO development strategy for the next decade. He said leaders signed the Tianjin Declaration and reached a series of agreements intended to guide SCO development.
Peiwu said the Tianjin Declaration affirms opposition to unilateralism, hegemonism, and protectionism, calls for improvement of the global governance system, and safeguards international fairness and justice. He said the declaration explicitly condemns military aggression against Iran and safeguards the right of all countries, including Iran, to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Peiwu described security cooperation outcomes from the summit, including the establishment of the SCO Universal Center for Countering Challenges and Threats to Security, the Information Security Center under the SCO Universal Center, the Center for Combating Transnational Organized Crime, and the SCO Anti-Drug Center. He said these bodies will enhance member states’ capacity to respond to threats and challenges and to safeguard regional peace.
Peiwu said the summit decided to establish the SCO Development Bank and to set up three China-SCO cooperation platforms in energy, green industries, and digital economy. He said three cooperation centers will be set up in scientific and technological innovation, higher education, and vocational and technical education. He said six development action plans were formulated to cover areas such as sustainable energy development, green industry, and international cooperation on artificial intelligence.
Peiwu outlined China initiatives linked to the summit, including implementing 100 livelihood projects in member states with such need, providing RMB 2 billion in grants to member states by 2025, and welcoming use of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System.
Peiwu described the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and listed its five core concepts as adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions. He said this initiative complements the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.
Peiwu said President Pezeshkian attended the Tianjin Summit and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and that President Xi Jinping met with President Pezeshkian in Beijing on September 2. He said the two leaders reached consensus on the future development of bilateral relations.
Peiwu said Xi told President Pezeshkian that China places relations with Iran high on its diplomatic agenda in the Middle East and stands ready to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, clean energy, and connectivity, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and jointly promote the growth of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. He said Xi emphasized that China attaches importance to Iran’s pledge that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons and respects Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Peiwu said China supports Iran in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and in defending its legitimate rights and interests through political negotiations. He said China will continue to uphold justice, work for a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties, and make efforts to realize peace in the Middle East.
Peiwu said President Pezeshkian praised the Tianjin Summit and China’s contributions during its SCO presidency, and that Iran will maintain its friendship with China and deepen cooperation. He said Iran fully supports the Global Governance Initiative and will coordinate with China to oppose unilateralism and power politics, safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East, and work to implement the initiative.
Peiwu said the Tianjin Summit and the meeting between the two heads of state triggered a response in Iran, with sectors of society praising the SCO’s contributions to maintaining international and regional peace and development and looking forward to a greater role for the SCO. He said China appreciates that response.
Peiwu said the Chinese Embassy in Iran is ready to work with sectors of Iranian society to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, practice the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, and contribute to the growth of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership and to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.