China and Iran: presence and future of relationships

The article describes the issues of formation and development of multilateral and bilateral relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran. After the beginning of economic reforms in China, the initiator of which is considered to be a well-known Chinese politician Deng Xiaoping, China has embarked on a policy of comprehensive economic cooperation distancing itself from politics of confrontation. The main emphasis of the Chinese leadership in this direction was made on the development of the energy sector, which, of course, has raised the problem of providing the Chinese industry with hydrocarbons. The closest and most advantageous partner, with rich reserves of energy resources, was Iran. Mutually beneficial cooperation of the countries started with the trade of weapons and partly nuclear technology. Today it has moved into the fields of infrastructure, railway construction, and textile industry, production of building materials, telecommunications and electricity. The Iranian leadership claims to be a regional leader and is securing himself the said recognition from Beijing. However, the PRC remains committed to its flexible policy in this matter and prefers to follow an independent course. At the same time, both countries bring total commitment to the principles of multi-polarity, rejection of hegemonic ambitions on the world stage, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.