China to continue strengthening strategic cooperation with Iran: Wang

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 May 2024 05:38

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirms plans to enhance strategic cooperation with Iran and safeguard mutual interests during talks with Iranian deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari.

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Residents watch a large screen showing footage of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during the evening news broadcast on his death, at an outdoor shopping mall in Beijing, Monday, May 20, 2024. (AP)

China will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation with Iran, protect mutual interests, and work towards regional and global peace, according to Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as quoted by Chinese state media.

Wang made these comments during talks with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari on Tuesday, while attending a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

"Iran has lost outstanding leaders and China has lost good friends and partners," said Wang, adding that "In this difficult time, China firmly stands by Iranian friends."

Bodies of Raisi, companions arrive in Tehran to be laid to rest

The bodies of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their companions arrived Tuesday at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran ahead of being laid to rest on Wednesday morning.

The Iranian city of Qom mourned Raisi and his companions in a solemn procession, recognizing their efforts and expressing grief over their loss.

The first stop in Qom was the Fatima Masumeh Shrine, where their bodies were awaited by millions of people who had gathered since the early morning hours.

The funeral procession then proceeded through the streets of the city of Qom, arriving at the Jamkaran Mosque.

The city of Tabriz, the capital of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, bid farewell on Tuesday to President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their companions.

At the first funeral stop, hundreds of thousands of Iranians gathered to bid farewell to the bodies of the deceased.

Following Tabriz, the bodies will be taken to Qom, then to the capital, Tehran, before reaching their final destination in Mashhad. There, they will be laid to rest next to the shrine of Imam Ali Ibn Mousa al-Rida.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent conveyed the prevailing atmosphere of sorrow in Mashhad and other Iranian cities and provinces. She confirmed that testimonials from the people corroborate the late Iranian president's dedication to the country's youth and prospects, his closeness to the Iranian populace, notably his visits to engage with them and hear their demands.