TEHRAN- Economic relations between Iran and China are still growing despite the pressures and threats from the U.S., Chinese Customs spokesman Li Kuiwen told IRNA on Saturday.

The Chinese official said that the growth of trade between the two countries is a sign of bilateral cooperation, adding that China is the main customer of Iran’s non-oil products and this status has been preserved in 2018.

Putting the value of Iran-China trade at $29.101 billion in the first nine months of 2018, the spokesman said the figure shows 1.8 percent growth compared to the figure of the same time span in 2017.

China’s exports to Iran during the mentioned nine-month fell 16.3 percent to $11.72 billion, while the country’s imports from Iran rose 19.1 percent to $17.381 billion in the said time, the official added.

Mentioning the U.S. re-imposition of sanctions against Iran, Li Kuiwen said relations between China and Iran is being developed disregarding the internal laws of any third country; China will continue economic and trade cooperation with Iran as before and the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal has no effect on the ties between China and Iran.

MA/MA