Xi expresses support for Iran amid visit by RaisiAP, BEIJINGChinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Tuesday expressed support for Iran during a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as Tehran tries to expand relations with Beijing and Moscow to offset Western sanctions over its nuclear development. The official Chinese account of Xi’s meeting with Raisi gave no indication of whether they discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. Xi and Raisi attended the signing of 20 cooperation agreements, including on trade and tourism, the Chinese government said. Xi said that Beijing “opposes external forces interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and undermining Iran’s security and stability,” the government statement said.
