On January 23, 2016 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran at Sa'dabad Palace in Tehran. Both sides reviewed the development course of China-Iran friendly relations, exchanged in-depth views on bilateral all-round cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern, and agreed to establish China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership so as to push bilateral relations to a new level and better benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Iran are both ancient civilizations and the two peoples had friendly exchanges along the Silk Road as early as over 2000 years ago and thus forged a profound friendship. There were no wars and conflicts but long-standing friendly exchanges and sincere cooperation between the two countries in history and both nations have no fundamental contradictions in reality but consistent mutual support, mutual benefits and win-win results. China-Iran friendship is rooted in friendly exchanges in history, mutual help in difficult times, selfless support on major issues and a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation concept, and it has withstood the test of international vicissitudes. China hopes to see a smooth implementation of the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, welcomes Iran to set up a new image in regional and international arenas, and will work with Iran to promote bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation in politics, economy, trade, energy, infrastructure, security and people-to-people and cultural engagement to a new level.

Xi Jinping stated that China respects and supports regional countries and their peoples independently exploring a political system and a development path suitable to their respective national conditions, and the international community should help the region realize economic and social development. China will keep communication and coordination with Iran to safeguard regional and global peace and stability.

Xi Jinping stressed that China will enhance all-round practical cooperation with Iran within the “Belt and Road” framework. Both sides should take energy cooperation as a ballast and establish long-term and stable cooperative relations in the energy field; regard connectivity cooperation as a focus by carrying out cooperation in such areas as railway, road, port, mining, communications and engineering machinery and earnestly implementing relevant infrastructure construction projects; view production capacity cooperation as a compass by strengthening communication and connection in economic industry policy and encouraging closer cooperation between advantageous enterprises of the two countries to forge an all-dimensional and diversified production capacity cooperation pattern in a wide-range of fields; take financial cooperation as a promoter by actively exploring and studying new financial cooperation patterns and intensifying cooperation under the framework of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Hassan Rouhani expressed that President Xi Jinping is the first foreign head of state to visit Iran after its nuclear issue was resolved, which demonstrated the level of positive and friendly relations between the two countries. This visit will surely become a milestone in the development history of bilateral relations. Iran attaches importance to China’s important role in international affairs, always remembers China’s long-term support and help and thanks China for its contributions to the political settlement of its nuclear issue. Under the new situations, Iran will keep high-level exchanges with China, deepen bilateral cooperation in such sectors as economy, trade, investment, energy, finance and environmental protection, actively participate in the “Belt and Road” construction and boost bilateral communication and coordination in international affairs.

The two heads of state reached multiple important consensus and agreed to establish China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership and take it as a new starting point and guiding principle to consolidate mutual trust, enhance cooperation and better benefit the two peoples.

Both sides agreed to expand exchanges at high and other various levels, continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests, strengthen coordination and cooperation on multilateral occasions including the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, advance security cooperation and play a greater role in global peace and stability.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen exchanges between think-tanks, colleges and universities and youths, jointly ensure the successful operation of the Confucius Institutes, deepen cooperation in news and tourism, and expand personnel exchanges so as to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between both peoples.

Following the talks, Xi Jinping and Hassan Rouhani together witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Jointly Advancing Construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as well as multiple bilateral cooperation documents covering energy, production capacity, finance, investment, communications, culture, justice, science, technology, news, customs, climate change and human resources.

The two heads of state jointly met the press.

The two sides issued the Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping attended a grand welcome ceremony held by Hassan Rouhani at the square outside the Republic Building of the Sa'dabad Palace.

At around 9:30 a.m., escorted by horse troops, Xi Jinping arrived at the square outside the Republic Building of the Sa'dabad Palace by car, and Hassan Rouhani welcomed him at the parking place. The two heads of state stepped on the reviewing stand and the military band played the national anthems of both China and Iran. Xi Jinping inspected the honor guard accompanied by Hassan Rouhani.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended above events.