Tayyebnia made the remarks during an exclusive interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).
The state visit to Iran by Chinese President Xi Jinping was a milestone in the bilateral relations between China and Iran, and it will provide a significant opportunity for a series of cooperation in the political, economic and trade areas, Tayyebnia said.
He expressed hope that China will maintain long-term friendly relations with Iran, not to be affected by short-term political and economy factors.
‘I think the state visit to Iran by Xi is a signal for Iran that China is willing to develop long-term strategic relations with us and it provides a great opportunity for cooperation in the political, economic and trade areas,’ Tayyebnia said.
The European Union (EU) last Saturday removed all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.
When Iran was suffering from sanctions, China was one of few countries to maintain relations with Iran, Tayyebnia said, adding that ‘we cherish the friendship with China, and hope to build a basis for cooperation and enhance cooperation with China in various fields.’
He said that the two countries enjoy complementary advantages in economy and have a broader space in cooperation, especially in the energy sector, and that Iran will become a reliable supplier for China in a long-term energy demand in the future. He also showed his expectation of highway construction.
‘At present, China has the longest railway network in the world and we have been working with China in the highway field, and in the future, we welcome China’s taking part in Iran’s highway projects and other big projects. We are willing to cooperate with China in every area,’ Tayyebnia said.