Opportunities of 25 year partnership for Iran and China
Iran and China two countries that are in
structural conflicts with the current world 
order have signed a Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership Agreement which is centered
on geo-economic goals

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/22/724156/Opportunities-of-25-year-partnership-for-Iran-and-China-
   
Iran and China two countries that are in structural
conflicts with the current world order have signed a
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement
which is centered on geoeconomic goals

The document heralds opportunities for Irans 
economic diplomacy but the road to its implementation
is riddled with challenges

The economic opportunities include the potential to
facilitate communication and information 
infrastructure expand trade and investment financial and
banking cooperation allow Iran to participate in the
Belt and Road Initiative and reduce sanctions
pressure
However the disparity of expectations from the
agreement the inconsistency of the two countries
theoretical and practical policymaking their distinct
commercial structures sanctionrelated snags in 
financial and banking convergence and the dearth of
economic and commercial diplomats in Iran mean
the two countries have an uphill task to implement
the agreement

The most important of these challenges is the heavy
shadow of sanctions which severely limits Irans
room for maneuver but also a reason for the two
countries to cooperate

The changing structural conditions and the fluidity of
the international system marked by the decline of the
US hegemony exert limitations for emerging powers
such as China and regional powers such as Iran

Under structural pressures Iran and China are faced
with certain requirements and contingencies that
lead them to convergence This is the basis for the
initiation of the comprehensive strategic partnership
agreement which is based on mutual requirements
and necessities

One of the most important manifestations of the
hegemonic powers confrontationalism is the use of
sanctions which have been widely used in the United
States foreign policy in recent years in such a way
that the number of countries targeted by sanctions
has increased
Although the degree of being impacted by sanctions
is a function of the size and strength of economies
and hence it is different from country to country the
imperative to face off the hegemon is common

Under the pressure of several decades of sanctions
which have intensified in recent years due to the 
nuclear standoff Iran has pursued a look east policy

Irans expectations of economic opening after 
submitting to a nuclear agreement in 2015 were met
with former president Donald Trumps unilateral with
drawal from the accord and his imposition of new
sanctions under Washingtons maximum pressure
campaign

Amid the exponential pressure of sanctions Iran
took on the path of Asia to break the tightening web
of sanctions and turned its attention to China more
than before

A glance at Irans trade relations shows China is
Irans first economic partner with a distant 30
share of the countrys foreign trade compared to
other countries

China is the most important source for Irans 
technological and industrial needs the most important
buyer of Iranian oil and the only country that has
chosen the policy of keeping its economy open to
Iran at a time of mounting sanctions pressure
Moreover under the guiding principle of Chinas
peaceful rise the Chinese government pursues a
policy of economic activism in various regions 
especially strategic regions such as the Persian Gulf

Given the enormity of energy intensive industries in
China the imperative to guarantee energy security is
one of the key pillars of the countrys economic 
development strategy

This per se explains Beijings endeavors to
strengthen economic relations with the oilrich
countries of the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia

However it should be noted that the role of Iran is
more important and the Chinese are well aware of
Irans capacity and ability to influence the stability
and security of the region

Hence they are keen to strengthen Irans stabilizing
role in the region in order to guarantee energy 
security and the 25year strategic partnership agreement
fulfills this part of Chinas intentions

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