On October 12, the 15th Annual Meeting of the China-Iran Friendship Association took place in Beijing, centered around the theme “Contributing to High-Quality Development of China-Iran Friendship and Cooperation through Civil Forces.”
The opening ceremony featured significant addresses from Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Broujerdi, Chairman of the Iran-China Friendship Association, and Bahktiar, the Iranian Ambassador to China. Approximately 70 attendees were present, including leaders from friendship associations across various provinces and cities in China, as well as representatives from businesses and media.
Yang Wanming proposed three key recommendations to enhance the role of the annual meeting as a bridge between the two countries and to strengthen its institutional framework: First, to vigorously promote local cooperation and broaden the scope of exchanges; second, to foster pragmatic collaboration and deepen the cooperation; and third, to focus on youth exchanges to solidify the foundation of friendship. He emphasized that the annual meeting should serve as a platform for strengthening communication, sharing experiences, pooling ideas, and promoting cooperation, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development and fruitful outcomes of China-Iran relations through civil forces.
Broujerdi noted the significance of this year’s meeting, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. He highlighted that both countries, as ancient civilizations, share a long-standing friendship, and expressed the willingness of the Iran-China Friendship Association to work closely with their Chinese counterparts to promote traditional friendship and practical cooperation across various fields for the benefit of both nations and their peoples.
Ambassador Bahktiar praised the vital role of civil organizations, including the friendship associations, in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship among people, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, and maintaining world peace. He stated that Iran values its relationship with China and is eager to coordinate and collaborate more closely within the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, aiming to deepen China-Iran relations and contribute to global peace and stability.
During the meeting, attendees engaged in in-depth discussions on promoting practical cooperation between China and Iran, as well as deepening cultural exchanges. A consensus was reached on strengthening collaboration in civil society, local initiatives, and youth engagement. The event concluded with the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding for the 15th Annual Meeting of the China-Iran Friendship Association.”
