Xi said that China and Iran agreed during his visit to upgrade their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a move which would increase their strategic mutual trust, strengthen bilateral cooperation in all fields and benefit the two peoples in a better way.
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“China has always stood by the side of the Iranian nation during hard days”, Rouhani said, in comments posted on his official website.
Khamenei said Iran would never forget Chinese cooperations during the sanctions.
Xi also became the first Chinese leader to visit Iran in 14 years.
The deal for all new planes could be formally announced when Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani visits Paris this week, Mr. Akhoundi said.
The leaders signed 17 agreements on economic and technological cooperation, including one on nuclear energy.
The Iranian president said that he and President Xi also discussed the monetary, banking and investment issues as well as long-term contracts on energy, railways, ports and technology parks construction and expansion of cooperation in industrial, mining and tourism sectors.
As his country emerges from worldwide isolation, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Italy on Monday, the first stop in a European tour where he’s expected to sign contracts with companies including Airbus Group.
According to Iranian media, more than a third of Iran’s foreign trade is carried out with China.
In Italy, where Rouhani is slated to meet with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and with the Argentine-born pope, Francis, he is predicted to sign off on as many as a dozen accords with Italian companies, according to an Italian government official who spoke with Bloomberg News.
Since the 1979 revolution which brought Islamic clerics to power, Iran has struggled to buy planes and spare parts from the West. Passengers in Iranian airports often wait many hours for ageing jets to be fixed.
He has hailed the agreement as a “new chapter” for Iran as its economy returns to global markets.
Xi said China will cooperate in building a rapid train system between Tehran and Mashhad and provide necessary financing for the projects.
“Although China and Russian Federation backed United Nations sanctions against Iran on its nuclear program, they were also heavily pushing for special waivers to continue trading with Iran”, Geranmayeh said.
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Iranian and Italian officials say they hope this visit will help improve economic and commercial ties.
