TEHRAN – Iran and China will implement joint programs in the pharmaceutical and medical fields under the 25-year agreement signed by the two countries, an official with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.

The joint programs aim to boost commercial, scientific, and industrial capacities of the two nations, enhance domestic production, and facilitate access to regional markets, IRNA quoted Hamid Inanlou as saying.

A part of the 25-year strategic partnership focuses on expanding collaborations in the health sector, including sharing expertise, technology, conducting medical research, training, and exchanging specialized human resources, as well as developing new medicines, he added.

Manufacturing medical and laboratory equipment such as syringes, diagnostic kits, health products, joint investment, and the establishment of joint companies, Inanlou further noted.

China interested in developing sci-tech ties with Iran

In June, Ding Zhisheng, the Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, voiced China’s willingness to boost scientific and technological cooperation with Iran within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Zhisheng met Hossein Afshin, the Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, on the sidelines of the 2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange held in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, from June 10 to 12.

Referring to the achieved agreements between the two countries, the Chinese official said China is willing to effectively implement the Iran-China strategic partnership and promote high-quality cooperation within the framework of the BRI.  “We seek to further develop the capacity for cooperation in science and technology between the two sides to bring more tangible benefits to the people of both countries,” IRNA quoted Zhisheng as saying.

For his part, Afshin said Iran is interested in enhancing ties with China to achieve breakthroughs in major scientific and technological cooperation.

China and Iran formally defined their bilateral relations as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in early 2016, when President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Iran. The strategic relationship has seen robust development since then.

Iran has demonstrated its full support for China in various issues, from those related to China’s core national interests and major international agendas proposed by China, such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China has also strongly supported Iran’s legitimate quest on many issues. China supported Iran’s legitimate position on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran’s position on women’s rights, and membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.

MT/MG