Opening of consulate general in Bandar Abbas can strengthen China-Iran cooperation

This is another proof of the deepening of China-Iran exchanges.

Iranian media reported that the non-oil trade volume between Iran and China in 1399 (March 2020 to March 2021) was 18.715 billion U.S. dollars. Taking into account the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and international sanctions on China-Iran trade, 18.715 billion US dollars is already a relatively high trade volume.

To be sure, there will be more people and trade exchanges between China and Iran in the future because of the following reasons. China and Iran signed the 25-year plan in March 2021. COVID-19 pandemic will gradually weaken. The international sanctions facing Iran will not always exist. Iran is becoming a country where more and more Chinese people like to travel.

Bandar Abbas is Iran's main trading port, and many exchanges between China and Iran need to be completed here. Moreover, the places leading the future development of Iran, such as Kish Island, Qeshm Island, Jask Port, Chabahar Port, etc., are all in the south of Iran.

China needs to pay more attention to the exchanges with Iran’s south, and of course, the Chinese diplomatic agencies need to provide timely and effective services for these exchanges. Therefore, it is very necessary for China to open the consulate general in Bandar Abbas.

I have visited southern Iran such as Bandar Abbas and found that there are some differences between here and Northern and central Iran. The opening of the Chinese Consulate General in Bandar Abbas will promote a more accurate understanding of Iran by Chinese officials, and of course it will benefit the development of bilateral relations.

Iran currently has three consulates-generals in China, namely in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. From the perspective of diplomatic reciprocity, it is reasonable for China to open the first consulate general in Iran and conform to the relevant provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

It is hoped that the Chinese Consulate General in Bandar Abbas will be opened as soon as possible so that it can serve the development of relations between the two countries earlier.