A joint meeting was held with the president and members of the Friendship Association of China and Foreign Countries in the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce. According to the report of the Communication Development Unit of the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, in this meeting, which was held with the presence of the president and members of the board of representatives of the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, the economic activists made some suggestions for the expansion of business interactions and trade with China.
Amir Keshani, head of the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, referring to the favorable and long-standing relations between Iran and China, said: "We will not forget that the Chinese government stood by the Iranian people during the sanctions imposed against Iran by western countries, a point that is valuable to us."
Isfahan is the industrial hub of Iran and ranks first in the production of many products, including steel, cement, textile and dairy products. Throughout history, the followers of different religions have coexisted peacefully in Isfahan, and this piece-loving atmosphere of the province can be a good testimony for Isfahan being considered a reliable business partner for China.
He further described Isfahan as a historical city with cultural and economic potentials and stated: “Isfahan can be a unique destination for tourists and a good business partner for Chinese investors. Isfahan province has top grade universities in the country and hosts a significant number of students, and as a result, its people have a rich and up-to-date culture. The people of Isfahan are interested in expanding relation with other countries and establishing a direct flight line from Isfahan to China would be of a great advantage.”
Mohammad Reza Golahmad, a member of the board of representatives and the chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Commission, also emphasized the importance of the role of the Friendship Association of the two countries in promoting relations and said: “The attention and interest of the members of the Friendship Association of China and Foreign Countries to cooperate with the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce is very valuable, because the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce has three thousand members, many of whom are the best in their field of activity in the country.
Many of the large industries in Isfahan use the Chinese technology and equipment, and therefore have extensive connections with counterparts in China. Many of our experts are currently facing the problem of acquiring Chinese visas. Considering the cultural proximity of the two countries and the fact that Iran has removed the pre-requisites to obtain visas for Chinese nationals, we expect the Chinese government to facilitate the process of issuing visas for Iranians, especially businessmen. If this happens, the trade relations between Iran and China will expand and multiply.
Yan Wanming, the head of the CFCFA, also said: “Isfahan is an ancient and modern city, and it has intellectual people who have preserved the traditions. The relations between Iran and China are very strong and constructive, and this can be understood from the visits of the presidents of the two countries”.
“Isfahan is well known as an ancient city with many tourist attractions in China and other parts of the world and can play an important role in expanding the circle of communication between the two countries”. “In addition, Isfahan has a sisterhood agreement with Xian in China, which strengthens Isfahan's relations with it.
In the CFCFA, there is a great interest in expanding cooperation with the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, and we support the strengthening of all-round relations. Next year, a conference titled "Iran-China Friendship" will be held in China. From here, we invite the economic activists of Isfahan to attend the conference and present their products and services. Regarding the issuance of visas, the Chinese Embassy in Iran is facing work restrictions causing difficulties in the visa issuance.