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NATION MARCH 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 6

CHINESE CHECKERS:

New Delhi not worried about

Beijing’s role in Iran-Saudi pact

Iran and Saudi Arabia last week announced to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen

embassies after talks in Beijing between officials from two Middle East powers

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
ndia has good ties with various
nations in West Asia and has an
I“abiding interest” in the region,
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
official spokesperson Arindam Bagc-
hi said in a press briefing on Thursday.
In response to a question regarding
the Saudi Arabia-Iran pact brokered
by China, Bagchi said, “We have seen
the reports in this regard. India has
good relations with various countries
in West Asia and we have abiding in-
terest in the region. India has always
advocated dialogue and diplomacy as
a way to resolve differences.”
The statement of Arindam Bagc-
hi comes after Iran and Saudi Arabia
last week announced to re-establish
diplomatic ties and reopen embassies
after talks in Beijing between officials
from two Middle East powers, Irani- Dr. Iraj Elahi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India, at State Archives along with Mahdi Shahrokhi, Consul General of Iran,
an state media reported on Friday.
The major development came recently in Hyderabad (ANI)
after years of tensions between the
two nations. The joint trilateral state- Economy, Trade, Investment, Tech- in Shia world. So, it will affect the Iran should accept Saudi Arabia as
ment issued by China, Saudi Arabia nology, Science, Culture, Sports, and region positively. In the comings it is and Saudi Arabia should except
and Iran said, “With the initiative Youth, which was signed in 1998.” months , the embassies will be open Iran as it is. We look at Saudi Arabia
of Chinese President Xi Jinping of Meanwhile, Iranian Ambassador and relations between two countries and other nations respectfully. Not
China’s support for developing good to India, Iraj Elahi in a press brief- will be restarted and it will help dif- to interfere in their internal issue is a
neighbourly relations between the ing here said that the resumption ferent crisis in the region. basic principle in our foreign policy,”
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Is- of the diplomatic ties between Iran “It (diplomactic ties between he added.
lamic Republic of Iran.” and Saudi Arabia mediated by Chi- Iran-Saudi) would be to the benefit of Earlier, Iran and Saudi Arabia
The delegations from the two na should not be a concern for India, India despite it has been done by the signed a China-brokered agreement
countries held talks from March adding that this step could benefit mediation of China. I think it is not a to restore diplomatic relations, end-
6-10, 2023 in Beijing. In the trilat- India since it helps intensify stability concern for India. China is a power ing a seven-year dispute. “The three
eral agreement, Iran, Saudi Arabia and peace in the Persian Gulf region. in the world now competing with the countries expressed their keenness
and China said, “They also agreed “The resumption of diplomat- US and no one can deny the power to exert all efforts towards enhancing
that the ministers of foreign affairs ic relations between Saudi Arabia and position of China. India is a ris- regional and international peace and
of both countries shall meet to im- and Iran whether the mediation has ing power. So, this resumption could security,” according to a statement
plement this, arrange for the return been done by China or India or any be to the benefit of India”, he added. signed by senior representatives from
of their ambassadors, and discuss other would be to the benefit of In- Iran and Saudi Arabia are two China, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
means of enhancing bilateral rela- dia. Since it helps and intensifies the pillars of Islamic world. Two pow- On Thursday, in a response by
tions. They also agreed to implement stability and peace in the region and ers in the west of Asia. “There are India on its reaction to the China-bro-
the Security Cooperation Agreement security in the Persian Gulf region”, different commonalities between kered reconciliation agreement be-
between them, which was signed in said the Iranian Envoy. Saudi Ara- two countries. Of course, there are tween Saudi Arabia and Iran, it said
2001, and the General Agreement bia is a leading country in the Sun- differences between their political that New Delhi had always been in
for Cooperation in the Fields of ni world. Iran is a leading country approaches. The main point is that favor of “dialogue and diplomacy”.

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