China and Iran pledge cooperation ahead of Brics summit, as Tehran seeks to join bloc

The Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers have spoken ahead of Tuesday’s Brics summit in Johannesburg, where Tehran is seeking to become the sixth member of the bloc.

During Sunday’s phone conversation, Iran’s Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that Tehran hoped to strengthen cooperation with Beijing in regional and international affairs

“Iran attaches great importance to the development of Iran and China’s comprehensive strategic partnership, and looks forward to maintaining high-level exchanges with China, deepening cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative,” Amir-Abdollahian said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.