Tehran, May 6 — Senior Iranian and Chinese officials on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic cooperation during the Iran-China Business Development Forum held at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA).
The forum, attended by China’s Ambassador Cong Peiwu, Iranian Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) head Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, and Parliamentary Friendship Group chair Ruhollah Nejabat, laid out a roadmap for deepening bilateral ties through investment, joint production, and technology transfer.
“Iran and China have a historic bond, but our cooperation is now entering a new phase based on mutual interests and shared global responsibilities,” said Mahmoud Najafi Arab, president of the Tehran Chamber, in his welcome remarks to the Chinese delegation.
Najafi Arab added that the Chamber is “ready to host sector-specific meetings and support joint ventures that benefit both economies.”
Ambassador Cong Peiwu described the gathering as “an important platform to align our economic vision” and said China is “fully committed to enhancing cooperation across all sectors, especially following the recent presidential meeting during the BRICS summit in Russia.”
During the session, Chair of the Iran-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, Ruhollah Nejabat said “China accounted for nearly a quarter of Iran’s non-oil exports last year, and 27 percent of our imports came from China. These numbers show that our economic ties are strategic and resilient.”
Nejabat linked these trade flows to national priorities.
“Iran’s Seventh Development Plan focuses on industrial modernization and attracting foreign technology. We see Chinese companies as key partners in sectors like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, textiles, and automotive,” he said.
Dehghan Dehnavi of the TPO proposed four key strategies to deepen Iran-China economic relations:
1. Technology Transfer: “China leads in R&D and Iran is eager to commercialize and co-develop advanced technologies,” he said.
2. High-Value Trade: “The average value of our exports is still under $400 per ton. We want to change that. Nanotech, biotech, and other knowledge-based goods must lead the way.”
3. Joint Production and Investment: “Iran offers legal guarantees for foreign investors, repatriation of profits, and successful exit cases. There is a strong track record,” Dehnavi said.
4. Mutual Market Access: “By producing together, Iran and China can reach not just each other’s markets, but third-country markets as well.”
Fereydoun Vardinejad, Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber, noted the gap between political goodwill and practical outcomes.
“Our political ties are strong, but economic cooperation still lags behind. We need to turn potential into results,” he said.
He called for more business missions, better data exchange, and focused cooperation in creative industries, the digital economy, and industrial innovation.
“We are looking at a win-win partnership—not just trade, but transformation,” Vardinejad said.
The forum was held on the sidelines of Iran Expo 2025 and saw participation from dozens of business leaders across industries, signaling growing momentum for Iran-China commercial collaboration.