TEHRAN – China's newly-appointed ambassador to Iran, Cong Peiwu, has officially started his diplomatic mission in Tehran.

He arrived in the Iranian capital on Friday to take over the role from his predecessor, Chang Hua, who had served a five-year term in the Chinese embassy in Tehran. 

Prior to his assignment in Iran, Cong Peiwu was China's ambassador to Canada and also held a position at the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The transfer of Chang Hua to Saudi Arabia is part of a routine diplomatic reshuffle within China's foreign service. 

Cong Peiwu's new role as ambassador to Iran comes at a time when both countries are seeking to strengthen their bilateral ties and cooperation on various fronts.

China holds the position of being Iran’s primary trading ally. Both nations face varying degrees of unlawful sanctions imposed by the United States. 

In recent times, the two countries’ relationship has grown stronger, notably following the reimplementation of sanctions on Iran's economy by the U.S. in 2018, subsequent to its unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement.

In March 2021, the two countries entered into a significant 25-year partnership deal, aiming to bolster their enduring economic and political bond.