Iran China cooperation reached a new milestone as officials from both countries agreed to form a Permanent Joint Cooperative Committee. The committee aims to enhance collaboration in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, petrochemicals, and joint investments. The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Bahman Abdollahi, President of the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives, and Zhong Peiwu, China’s Ambassador to Iran. They assessed current economic ties and explored strategies to deepen Iran China cooperation.
Abdollahi emphasized the potential for people-centered economic development. He noted that Iran’s cooperative sector has remained largely unaffected by international sanctions, making it a secure avenue for collaboration. “We propose establishing a Joint Cooperative Committee to plan projects, exchange delegations, and organize trade exhibitions,” he said. Iran has over 104,000 active cooperatives engaged in agriculture, industry, services, and manufacturing. Meanwhile, China operates more than two million cooperatives. Abdollahi stated that this extensive network provides a solid foundation for expanding bilateral economic initiatives.
The trade volume between the two nations currently stands at around $14 billion. Officials highlighted that this figure could grow significantly with structured cooperation. Both countries aim to advance technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable development through joint projects. Iran seeks Chinese expertise in agriculture, particularly in modern irrigation systems, seed production, livestock vaccines, and feed additives. Abdollahi stressed that adopting advanced Chinese technologies could enhance Iran’s domestic food production and security.
Industrial collaboration also featured prominently. Abdollahi invited Chinese companies to invest in mineral processing, petrochemical projects, and value-added manufacturing. This partnership aims to meet Iran’s domestic needs while supplying part of China’s market. Ambassador Zhong welcomed the initiative and praised the strategic relationship between the countries. He expressed China’s readiness to share knowledge, promote technological exchange, and support the Joint Cooperative Committee’s activities. Zhong also assured faster visa issuance for Iranian cooperative representatives attending events in China.
Both sides agreed to update the Memorandum of Understanding between the China Cooperative Organization and the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives. The revised MoU will be finalized during the Asia-Pacific Cooperative Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Experts note that the formation of a Permanent Joint Cooperative Committee strengthens institutional cooperation and ensures consistent high-level engagement. The committee will supervise projects, organize exhibitions, facilitate delegations, and identify new investment opportunities. Iran China cooperation now enters a new phase, with structured mechanisms in place to expand trade, technology, and sustainable development initiatives.