چکیده:
It is widely held that the 21st century will be China's century on the global stage، while Iran، in the beginning of the 21st century، is becoming a regional power in the Middle East even if the limits to its power can be questioned. Both countries stand practically alone، without allies in a world that looks upon their expansion unfavourably، if not with outright hostility. The 21st century، however، will not be the period of gaining influence by military means، even if the use of military force cannot be excluded. One of the main characteristics of both the Chinese and the Iranian expansions is economic expansion. Chinese presence is booming in the Middle East. Iran has developed a significant economic activity in Western Afghanistan، then in Iraq. Both countries look back on ancient civilisations، to which they frequently refer to and which contributes to their perceptions of the surrounding world. China has traditionally perceived itself as the centre of the universe. Iran، by the right of its Islamic revolution of 1979، wishes to be the leading power of the Islamic world. Ayatollah Khomeini was speaking of Islam، in spite of the fact that the Islamic government put forward by him is rooted in Shiite Islam. This leading role seems to return under the presidency of Ahmadinejad – even if in a new form. 11 September 2001 has created the moving space for Iran in which it can become a regional power.
خلاصه ماشینی:
3 main The limits of Chinese Middle Eastern activities, however – despite all Chinese efforts, in the framework of which China tries to build and maintain good relations with all states important from the Chinese point of view –, are defined by the American presence in the region.
In the post-bipolar international system the United States is the leading state of the Middle East, the guarantor of the security of many states in the region, the force containing the rogue states and – what may be even more important from the Chinese point of view – is building and guarding its strategic position over the energy resources, by having considerable military forces deployed in the region.
16 Although China did have relations with Middle Eastern states well before its energy interests emerged, these had mainly been defined on an ideology basis: Maoist ideas, solidarity with the third world [see Iran today!] and sympathy with national wars of independence – the roots of which can be found in 19th–20th century Chinese history.
47 (Figure 1) China, however, is not only interested in oil and weapons in the Middle East, but in the field of modern technologies, telecommunication and the development of infrastructure – energy sources should be transported – and it is deepening its relations making use of the fact that for several western companies Middle Eastern markets are too risky.
Besides, as in China’s Middle Eastern relations weapons and military technology sales, participation in infrastructure development and the supply of consumer goods are rapidly developing segments in the bilateral relations, even if the volume of Iranian exports to China is almost three times as much as Chinese exports to Iran.