China's President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to the Iranian president on Thursday for the "terrorist attack" a day earlier, Chinese state television CCTV said.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stands next to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing, China, February 14, 2023, Reuters
China's President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to the Iranian president on Thursday for the "terrorist attack" a day earlier, Chinese state television CCTV said.
Two explosions killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores in Iran on Wednesday at a ceremony to commemorate commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed by a U.S. drone in 2020. Iranian officials blamed Wednesday's incident on unspecified "terrorists".
Xi said he was shocked at the attack and stressed that China opposes all forms of terrorism, "strongly condemns terrorist attacks", and firmly supports Iran's efforts to safeguard national security and stability, Xinhua said.
China, under the leadership of its communist regime, has been pursuing a nuanced diplomatic strategy aimed at strengthening its presence and influence in the Middle East region.
This complex strategy is particularly evident in China's relations with two key players in the region: Iran and Israel.
On one hand, China is a close ally of Iran. Both countries recently signed a major economic agreement that solidifies their economic and trade ties. This agreement encompasses investments in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications, further enhancing their strategic cooperation. For China, Iran represents a crucial partner in the context of its Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to develop trade and infrastructure connections across Eurasia.
On the other hand, China also maintains amicable relations with Israel. While Sino-Israeli relations may not be as close as those between China and Iran, they are marked by significant trade exchanges and cooperation in areas such as technology and innovation. China views Israel as a potentially valuable partner in the high-tech sector, aligning with its ambition to become a global leader in this field.
China's balanced diplomacy between Iran and Israel underscores its ambition to play a major role on the diplomatic stage in the Middle East.
As two pivotal actors in the region, both Iran and Israel are essential for any power seeking to bolster its presence there. China seeks to maintain good relations with both parties, thereby avoiding being entangled in potentially destabilizing geopolitical tensions.
China also views the Middle East as a crucial source of energy resources and a gateway to Europe and Africa. Consequently, it aims to develop economic and strategic partnerships that will serve its long-term interests.
Reporting by Liz Lee and Qiaoyi Li and Mena Today
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