The countries aim to build economic ties worth up to $600bn within the next 10 years, Rouhani announced.
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Officials from the two countries signed 17 documents and letters of intent to broaden bilateral cooperation in industry, transportation, railways, ports, new technology, tourism, the environment and energy.
Xi is the first head of state to visit Iran since sanctions were lifted on January 16, after independent inspections showed that Iran had complied with the terms of an worldwide agreement to limit its nuclear program.
Meanwhile, he said China is willing to see Iran strike a brand-new pose on regional and worldwide stages.
Both as ancient civilizations, China and Iran boast long history and splendid culture and have made important contribution to human progress, Xi said in written remarks upon arrival.
Concerned official sources headed by the Guardian Council responded to the accusations that have been repeated over the past few days on the predetermination of the elections and influentially manipulating them, stating that most candidates were considered not eligible for elections and were refused under the basis that they are not committed to the Islamic doctrine and also supportive of the nuclear deal.
Trade between the two countries stood at some $52 billion in 2014, but that figure dropped a year ago due to plunging oil prices.
In the statement Iran welcomed China’s commercial “belt” and the “21st century Silk Seaway” projects, pledging to help the initiative.
He said he and his Chinese counterpart discussed cooperation for “creating stability and security in the Middle East and helping countries plagued by terrorism, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and providing intellectual and intelligence assistance in the fight on terrorism”.
Late Saturday he met supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said Tehran “would never forget” Beijing’s cooperation during the years of worldwide sanctions against Iran.
According to Iranian media, more than a third of Iran’s foreign trade is carried out with China.
“Westerners have never obtained the trust of the Iranian nation”, he said.
For his part, Xi said he has traveled to Iran to prepare the ground for a new “prospect in relations between the two countries”.
“Some superpowers seek the rule of monopoly… but the development of emerging economies has taken the power of monopoly from them”.
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During the meeting, Xi and Rouhani also discussed counterterrorism measures and increased tensions in the Middle East following the severing of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It’s a region in which China is eager to strengthen its economic presence.
