Iranian President Ahmadinejad to visit China
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Sources in Iran say President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit China this week, Global Times reported on June 8.
Ahmadinejad will visit the Shanghai Expo and meet with Chinese officials to discuss the Iran nuclear issue and the nuclear fuel swap deal Iran signed with Turkey and Brazil, according to an AFP report, quoting Iranian state television.
AFP said his visit is of particular significance as U.S. pushes for UN vote on new sanctions against Iran.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed on June 7 to have enough votes to pass a sanctions resolution in the UN Security Council. But the U.S. still needs the support of at least four of the 10 non-permanent members. The U.S. is hoping for a UN vote on sanctions later this month.
Professor Xiao Xian of Yunnan University said he believed Ahmadinejad's visit is intended to mend relations with China.
"Previously China and Russia had not sided with the U.S. and other western countries but this time China agreed to the sanctions resolution," said Xiao.
Gao Zugui, director of the Institute of World Political Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said Ahmadinejad is not coming to China to talk about the nuclear issue. But he said Ahmadinejad had chosen a highly sensitive time to visit China.
"His visit to China will not have substantial influence on the current Iran nuclear issue. But I think both sides will have deep exchanges and further promote bilateral relations," Gao said.
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