Chinese analyst: One Belt, One Road useless without Iran

Islamabad, Nov 23, IRNA - A Chinese university professor and analyst believes Iran is the top priority of China in “One Belt, One Road” initiative and “without Iran, the initiative will be useless.” Li Xiguang, director of Tsinghua University Center for International Communications Studies added that Iran has always been the most important oil exporter to China and it is a reality that China needs Iran because of different reasons including one that China is the largest importer of Iran’s oil. “I have been doing a research on the world civilizations and know that some Western powers are not happy with the rich culture of Iran and China,” he said. He added the One Belt One Road initiative can make a new civilization with China, Iran, Pakistan and other regional and Muslim nations which will be “a real dialog of civilizations” which was proposed by Iran in 2002 through which different civilizations can work and join together through dialogue. Li Xinguang said, 'Now, it is a crucial time for Iran and China to get even closer together like in thousands years ago when the two, as the oldest civilizations, used to be greatest powers in the world and still were coexisting peacefully. “Iran used to be one of the largest oil exporting country to China during the US sanctions; Iran was the third or fourth oil exporter to China. “Now Iran oil exports to China are growing more,” he said. The scholar went on to say that China has been a firm supporter of Iran even during the tough time of sanctions, for example China supported Iran to develop its subway system and China also started a banking cooperation with Iran that made the trade possible between Iran and China during the sanctions. “Now the sanctions have been removed, China is even more interested to work with Iran and Chinese banking system will invest more in Iran,” he said. 1378/IRNA