The bilateral relationship between the People\u2019s Republic of China and\nthe Islamic Republic of Iran has undergone significant evolution,\ntransforming from ancient Silk Road exchanges into a strategic\npartnership centred on economics, energy, and geopolitics.<\/p>\n
Historically, interactions between the two civilisations have been\ndocumented since the 2nd century BC through envoys from the Han Dynasty,\nGan Ying. Modern diplomatic relations were formally established on 16\nAugust 1971.<\/p>\n
However, the most substantial shift in dynamics occurred following\nthe Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. As Iran began facing isolation\nand sanctions from Western nations, China gradually positioned itself as\na crucial alternative partner for Tehran.<\/p>\n
Asymmetric Dependence in Economic and Energy Sectors<\/p>\n
Data shows that in 2024, bilateral trade volume between the two\ncountries reached US$13.37 billion, with Chinese exports comprising\nUS$8.93 billion and imports totalling US$4.44 billion. China has been\nIran\u2019s largest trading partner since 2012.<\/p>\n
The primary focus of this economic relationship is the energy sector.\nChina currently absorbs approximately 90 per cent of Iran\u2019s total crude\noil exports. However, this relationship is asymmetrical.<\/p>\n
For China, Iranian oil accounts for roughly 15 per cent of their\ntotal energy imports. This position gives Beijing a negotiating\nadvantage, allowing it to obtain crude oil supplies at discounted prices\namid international sanctions that limit Tehran\u2019s buyer options.<\/p>\n
Strategic 25-Year Agreement and Investment Reality<\/p>\n
President Xi Jinping\u2019s state visit to Iran in January 2016 laid the\nfoundation for establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership. This\nwas subsequently followed by the signing of a 25-year comprehensive\ncooperation plan in March 2021, which was officially launched in January\n2022.<\/p>\n
Although this agreement was designed to encompass large-scale\ninfrastructure investment within the framework of the Belt and Road\nInitiative, implementation on the ground has been observed to progress\nslowly.<\/p>\n
Geopolitical analyses note that this agreement often functions as a\nnegotiating instrument for China in managing the dynamics of its\nrelationship with the United States, rather than as a commitment for\nimmediate capital disbursement to Iran.<\/p>\n
China tends to exercise caution in realising investments in Iran\ncompared with its investment portfolio in other Gulf states.<\/p>\n
Transition in Security Cooperation and Multilateralism<\/p>\n
During the 1980s (the era of the Iran-Iraq War), China was one of the\nprincipal suppliers of military equipment to Iran. Currently, security\ncooperation is focused more on technological and strategic aspects.<\/p>\n
Recent reports indicate that Iran is in the final stages of\npurchasing supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles manufactured by China,\naccording to Jonathan Fulton, Assistant Professor at Zayed University,\nUAE.<\/p>\n
At the diplomatic level, China has provided significant support for\nintegrating Iran into non-Western multilateral organisations. Beijing\u2019s\nbacking has facilitated Iran\u2019s full membership in the Shanghai\nCooperation Organisation (SCO) and the BRICS economic group. This move\nprovides Tehran with additional institutional legitimacy on the global\nstage.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, there are fundamental differences in interests. China\u2019s\napproach in the Middle East is driven by economic motives requiring\nregional stability.<\/p>\n
Conversely, Iran\u2019s foreign policy, which frequently involves proxy\ngroups, is often assessed as frequently creating instability, which\nindirectly can disrupt China\u2019s commercial interests in the region.<\/p>\n
Cultural Diplomacy and People-to-People Exchanges<\/p>\n
Beyond economic and military instruments, both countries actively\npromote soft power strengthening through cultural exchanges. This has\nbeen realised through the opening of Confucius Institutes at Tehran\nUniversity (2007) and Mazandaran University (2016), as well as the\nprovision of Mandarin and Persian language study programmes at\nuniversities in each country.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, these exchanges have been driven through large-scale\ncultural exhibitions such as the historical art exhibition \u201cTreasures\nFrom Iran\u201d in several major Chinese cities in 2024.<\/p>\n
From a mobility perspective, Iran has implemented unilateral\nvisa-free policy for Chinese citizens since July 2019, complementing\nIran\u2019s status as a group tourism destination for Chinese nationals,\nwhich has been in place since 2011.<\/p>\n
Overall, the China-Iran strategic partnership is driven by economic\npragmatism and geopolitical adjustment. Both countries leverage this\nrelationship to achieve their respective objectives amid pressure from\nthe international system, although it remains characterised by strict\nrisk calculations, particularly from Beijing\u2019s perspective.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-iran-relations-strengthen-amid-sanctions-and-conflict-bound-by-energy-and-strategy-1773323583", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }