Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Tehran yesterday on the third leg of a Middle East tour aimed at boosting economic ties with the region.
State news agency Irna said Xi, accompanied by three deputy premiers and six ministers as well as a high-ranking business delegation, was greeted at Tehran airport by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif.
The president, who has already visited Egypt and Saudi Arabia, will meet today with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani and the Islamic republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khamenei, according to local media.
Beijing is Tehran’s top customer for oil exports and trade between the two countries was worth $52bn in 2014.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour has told state television that 16 accords including a strategic co-operation agreement are to be signed during Xi’s visit.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival at Mehrabad airport in Tehran yesterday.
