The 2010 Expo's next VIP: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gets his waving arm ready to greet crowds at the Shanghai 2010 Expo this week.Although dignitaries from around the world have paid their respects to the 2010 Expo while in Shanghai, few VIPs have caused as much of a stir as Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when he announced his plans to attend the Expo on Friday to take part in celebrations at the Iranian pavilion.
According to China Daily, the Chinese Foreign Ministry considers Ahmadinejad's attendance at the Expo the main reason for his visit, although political analysts say he is “here to seek more support from China to water down fresh sanctions.”
With this in mind, many in the media expect his Expo visit to be brief, with this trip concentrating on discussions with China over Iran’s nuclear program.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters that it was unclear if Mr Ahmadinejad would meet with the Chinese president, Hu Jintao.
“It’s very hard for China to step forward, to make clear statements on the Iran crisis, because it does not want to offend Iran seriously. China does not think it can benefit from strong condemnation and sanctions against Iran,” said Ding Xueling, a professor of social science at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who has studied China’s overseas relations for more than a decade, to The National.
Trade between China and Iran was worth US$27 billion in 2008, with China also the biggest supplier of heavy machinery to the Islamic republic. Not a simple dependence issue, Iran also is vital to China’s energy security as the country’s third largest oil supplier.
In an area of the Expo unofficially dubbed the “Axis of Evil,” the Iran Pavilion is next to the North Korea and Burma Pavilions.
If Sino-Iranian relations were able to survive the “heretical Chinese jeans” incident, the next round of discussions will be a snap.
