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TEHRAN, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese ambassador to Iran, Pang Sen, highlighted here on Tuesday the growing ties between China and Iran and stressed the expansion of ties further.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Pang said that Iran and China's relations are presently in a progressive motion, particularly following the official visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in January this year to Iran.
Xi's visit was a "successful" one and both sides agreed to develop a comprehensive plan for promoting relations for the future, he said.
Since then, officials from the two countries are in constant contacts and delegations from Iran and China have visited the other country for further negotiations on mutual ties, Pang said.
Iran-China trade value stood at 33.85 billion U.S. dollars last year, and has reached 14.1 billion U.S. dollars in the first half year of 2016, he added.
Pang also said that the non-finance investment of Chinese investors in Iran reached 270 million U.S. dollars from January to June, with a 43.8 percent increase year on year.
Meanwhile, China imported 15 million tons of crude oil from Iran in the same time span, which represents a 2.5 percent increase year on year, he added.
He also stressed that the projects carried out by China in Iran, including Tehran-Isfahan railway project, have made considerable progress.
In the meantime, cultural ties between two countries have witnessed positive trend of progress over the past years, Pang said. "Culture, education, media and tourism have been among the top areas of cooperation between Iran and China."
Last month, Chinese cultural festival titled "2016 Experience China in Iran" featured northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region through a photo exhibition, music performance and other cultural activities at Tehran's Niavaran Cultural Center.
The exhibition, drawn from the collection of major cultural items, offered a selection of local garments and musical instruments with a range of styles and cultural uses.
Presently, China is pushing forward with the important strategy of the Belt and Road Initiative, which has been welcomed by Iran, the Chinese ambassador said, adding that Iran is China's partner in cooperation for this initiative.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
