TEHRAN- This year is the first year that Iran has formally joined the BRICS mechanism, which provides a new platform for China-Iran cooperation and enriches the vision and potential of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. From June 10th  to 11th, the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

 Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi , attended the meeting and met with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Mr Bagheri. Wang expressed warm congratulations for Iran’s participation in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting for the first time as a formal member.

Nowadays, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. It is undergoing major shifts, division and regrouping, leading to more uncertain, unstable and unpredictable developments. BRICS is an important force in shaping the international landscape. BRICS' expansion has ushered in a new era for the Global South to gain strength through unity, and the appeal and attractiveness of BRICS has been continuously increasing.

In terms of scale, the BRICS countries account for nearly half of the world's population, and the BRICS has already surpassed the G7 in purchasing power parity. In terms of economy and trade, the BRICS countries' goods trade accounts for about 20% of the world's total, but the trade volume between them only accounts for about 10% of their respective foreign trade, and there is still great potential for growth. The BRICS New Development Bank supports nearly 100 projects, promoting the economic and social development of member countries. In terms of international influence, the BRICS mechanism includes major emerging economies and major countries in all continents. After the expansion, the BRICS mechanism has more influence in international affairs and global governance to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

As a new Ambassador to Iran for just one month, I deeply feel that Iran, as a major country in the Middle East, has unique geographical advantages, and plays an important role in international and regional affairs. Iran’s inclusion in BRICS has increased the representativeness of the BRICS mechanism, strengthen the force for world peace and development, adding weight to BRICS global influence. The data released by the Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) indicated that the value of Iran’s non-oil trade with BRICS group of countries was close to US$40 billion in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, showing a 14 percent hike compared to same period a year earlier. Among these, China is Iran's largest trading partner. I believe that?with further development of cooperation in the BRICS family, we will witness more BRICS achievements benefiting the Iranian people.

Iran's BRICS story is inseparable from the background of China-Iran brotherhood, and will surely add bright BRICS colors to the picture of China-Iran friendship. Iran is one of the first countries to apply to join the BRICS mechanism. In 2017, President Xi Jinping proposed the "BRICS+" cooperation concept and invited Iran to join. In 2022, China assumed the presidency of the BRICS and launched the expansion process. In 2023, with the support of China and other countries, Iran was accepted as a formal member of the BRICS.

Looking to the future, China and Iran have great potential for cooperation under the BRICS mechanism. Both sides should give priority to development, pool their efforts for progress, deepen pragmatic cooperation, enhance cultural exchanges, and promote the upgrading of China-Iran friendly relations in all fields. Both sides should safeguard universal security, work together to meet challenges, stick to independence, objectivity and fairness, promote international consensus for peace, and provide new impetus for the political settlement of hot issues. Both sides should uphold fairness and justice, improve global governance, continue to hold high the banner of multilateralism, work closely together in the BRICS mechanism, take the lead in upholding the UN-centered international system, and promote the realization of an equal and orderly multipolar world.

Thanks to the long-standing traditional friendship and high political mutual trust between the two sides, China-Iran relations have maintained healthy and stable development. China is willing to strengthen strategic coordination with Iran, adding BRICS color to the beautiful picture of China-Iran friendship.