Iranian and Chinese diplomats recently convened in Beijing to discuss increased cooperation across a number of political and economic sectors in the coming years. With the removal of sanctions looming, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif noted that the country would like to play host to a growing number of Chinese firms and attract Chinese investment in the country’s energy sector.

Talks between Zarif and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi also centered on the country’s trade ties. China already accounts for a significant portion of Iran’s imports, especially in the area of consumer goods, and the country’s relationship is expected to expand as Iran’s appetite and availability for imports increases.

Commercial issues were not the only focus during the meeting, as the two sides also commented on the increasingly chaotic situation in the Middle East. Iran, for its part, called on greater Chinese participation in Middle Eastern conflicts. Zarif, in a prepared statement given in Beijing, stated that the two countries “shared similar beliefs” and that it would be useful for China to contribute the finding a solution to conflicts in Yemen, Syria and in the greater Middle East.

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