The Two Countries - Relations in Modern Times.
The Sino-Iranian Relations
During Pahlavi Era
The beginning of the relations between China and Iran in the twentieth century dates from 1920 A.D, when the first step towards the resumption of the mutual relations was taken by the conclusion of a friendship, consulate and legal agreement signed in Rome by the two governments.
The Sino - Iranian relations during Pahlavi's epoch may be divided into three periods: The first period covers the whole 50's and the first half of 60's, during which the Popular Republic of China's policy towards Iran was limited to intense opposition to the Shah and criticism of Iranian government's domestic policy and its close and intimate relations with the U.S. At the time of the nationalization of the oil-industry by Dr Mossaddeq and the intensification of the communist (Tudeh) Party's activities, China supported the Party.
After the Chinese government condemned the U.S.-led coup against Mossaddeq in Mordad 28, 1332, a wide gap was created in the mutual relationship between the two countries. In 1954, the peking's government expressed, through Pakistan's ambassador to Iran, its willingness to resume its friendly relations with Teheran.
The second period begins at the mid-60s and ends early in 70s, which is the time of the resumption of full-scale official relations between the two countries. That period is marked by indecisions and uncertainties. During that time, Iran's attitude towards China is frivolous and unstable.
The third period begins at the time of the establishment of official relations between China
and Iran and continues until the fall of the Shah and the victory of Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. Before the resumtion of the relations between the two countries, at the invitation of Chinese government, the Shah's sisters, Ashraf Pahlavi and Fatima Pahlavi, made a visit to Peking, where they were welcomed with enthusiasm. That official visit made a major contribution to the establishment of friendly relations between China and Iran.
In a joint official communique, issued on Mordad 26, 1350, Iran recognized the Popular Republic of China, and thus, the two countries started a new diplomatic relations, which was followed by the devolopment and the further improvement of bilateral economic relations between them.
China's willingness to make commercial deals with Iran, led to the growth of exports and an increase in the variety and the quantity of the Chinese and Iranian imported and exported commodities, which included modern and technological, as well as traditional, goods and products. In 1353, the economic relations between the two countries developed even more.
The Sino - Iranian Relaions After the Islamic Revolution in Iran
The Popular Republic of China recognized immediately the newly-founded revolutionary regime in Iran, because it had realized that the new system of government in Iran was the outcome and the result of Iranian people's will and their struggle to fulfill it.
The expansion of the Sino - Iranian friendly relations after the Revolution had several causes including: the announcement of Iranian "neither East, nor West" policy, Iranian membership in the non-aligned countries movement, the Iranian support for the handling of the Third-World problems, and the Iranian people's faithful, unrelented and brave struggle and confrontation - in their Holy Defense - against Iraqi invasion.