TEHRAN – Saeid Eshtiaqi, a board member of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) told IRNA on Monday that economic relations between Iran and China are on an upward trajectory and the Asian country is still seeking expansion of ties with the Islamic Republic.

“This country [China] has stood by Iran in difficult times and has been among Iran’s friendly countries,” Eshtiaqi said.

He noted that the vice premier of China is going to visit Iran in the coming weeks.

Referring to the signing of the comprehensive 25-year cooperation agreement between Iran and China, the official said: “We should use the opportunities presented by this agreement to our interests.”

The ICCIMA board member further stated that Iran’s oil exports to China have increased in recent months, adding: “This country was one of Iran's major target markets at the height of the sanctions and did not leave Iran alone as a friend and supporter in times of hardship.”

Emphasizing that China is still seeking to develop its economic relations with Iran, Eshtiaqi said: “Iran is one of China's trading partners, and we must first solve our internal problems and develop our relations with other countries to improve bilateral relations.”

According to the data released by China’s customs administration, the value of Iran’s non-oil exports to China reached $5.37 billion in the first nine months of 2022, registering an 11-percent rise year on year.

The Islamic Republic exported $4.84 billion worth of goods to China in January-September 2021.

Based on the mentioned data, Iran and China traded $12.32 billion worth of commodities in the mentioned nine months to register an 18-percent increase compared to $10.49 billion in the same period in 2021.

China's exports to Iran in the first nine months of 2022 also grew by 23 percent compared to the previous year to reach $6.95 billion. The Asian country had exported $5.65 billion worth of goods to Iran in the same period of the previous year.

Iran-China non-oil trade stood at $14.8 billion in 2021, according to China’s customs administration.

China is one of Iran’s main trade partners that has maintained strong trade ties with the Islamic Republic despite the strict U.S. sanctions.

Iran and China officially signed the document for 25-year comprehensive cooperation in March 2021.

The document was signed between Iran’s former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

EF/MA