“In order to combat the bullying of the neocolonialist powers, one must be empowered,” the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Imam Khomeini, told the Chinese envoy.
He called economics one of the important tools for exercising power, saying, “A dynamic economy has become an influential tool at the international level, but it should be used in the right manner.
“If a country oppresses another country for its own interests, whether it is Iran or the United States, it is not acceptable. We should not try to attain our rights at the price of trampling upon others’ rights.”
The cleric noted that China has achieved economic progress through extensive cooperation with the world and that Beijing’s reasonable behavior in the international arena has given impetus to the expansion of cooperation between China and other countries.
He pointed out that the expansion of trade between Tehran and Beijing is due to the Islamic Republic’s “Look to the East” policy.
The grandson of Imam Khomeini called the tourism industry an important vehicle for cultural exchanges between the two ancient nations, adding that the fact that the two countries have civilizations which are thousands of years old warrants that officials pay more attention to the tourism industry.
“The Iranian nation has always regarded China as a great country with a civilized and noble people,” he noted.
For his part, Lio said that China and Iran, as two great powers in East Asia and West Asia, have many affinities.
He also stated that both Chinese and Iranian officials are calling for the expansion of bilateral cooperation.
At the end of his remarks, he invited Hassan Khomeini to pay a visit to China.
RS/HG
End
MNA