Ghalibaf said Wednesday (June 17) at a consultation meeting with the Iran Chamber of Commerce: "I am not talking about extravagance, but about providing people with a comfortable and dignified life. We must build our country, build it with strength, and build it across all sectors. China is unquestionably unique for us. It is up to us to convince China, and it will be convinced, that we are not merely a customer or a trading counterpart, but a true strategic partner in every sense."
I Have Come Seeking Help
Emphasizing the importance of expanding relations with China and focusing on solving people's economic problems, Ghalibaf said: "The importance of this meeting is evident from the fact that less than 48 hours after finding an opportunity amid wartime conditions and related priorities, I asked colleagues to arrange this gathering. I did not come because I was invited; I came because I requested it, and I am proud to be here. I wanted an opportunity to speak with our dear colleagues. Today, I have come seeking help. You know me well, I do not wait for others to act."
He added: "We need blocs. Let me be clear: such blocs must take shape and, in some ways, already have. Any bloc that emerges will certainly include two countries, Iran and China. I am pursuing this path decisively in technology, economics, and politics. We must move forward with dignity, without tension, and with logic."
Help Shape Decisions So I Can Make the Right Ones
Highlighting the role of experts and specialists in policymaking, Ghalibaf said: "This opportunity belongs to all of us. I sincerely ask you, and the 31 million people who registered in the Janfada campaign, among whom there are undoubtedly many experts and capable individuals, to help shape decisions so that I can make the right ones."
He continued: "I am not someone who remains undecided or waits. Help shape decisions and I will make them. I do not want to interfere in details. I only want to facilitate your work. I will not tell you what to do or not do, nor will you need my permission for every step. We must move forward with knowledge, understanding, and commitment. At the same time, we preserve our dignity, independence, and worldview, and we know our friends well."
Ghalibaf also offered condolences on the arrival of Muharram and commemorated the martyrs of the 12-Day War, the Ramadan War, and above all "our martyred Imam," saying: "Without doubt, everything the Iranian nation enjoys today in material and spiritual achievements, dignity, and honor is the result of the sacrifices of martyrs over the years. We hope to remain worthy guardians of their blood and the legacy of our martyred Imam."
People Are Driving Force of National Progress
The parliamentary speaker said he did not intend to discuss economics from a technical perspective, noting: "I am not an economist and have never claimed to be one. At most, I can claim the ability to coordinate and organize affairs as a manager."
He added that officials must understand that it is the people who drive the economy, culture, politics, and all other spheres of national life. "At best, officials can facilitate progress, provided they do not create obstacles. Unfortunately, while holding office, we sometimes fail to fully appreciate this reality."
Ghalibaf described the Iranian people as the country's greatest and irreplaceable asset, saying they once again introduced Iran to the world during the recent war, both to friends and adversaries, while also gaining a clearer understanding of who their friends and enemies are.
Iran's Global Standing Has Strengthened
He said Iran today is more widely recognized internationally than in the early years after the Islamic Revolution, adding: "After 47 years, the world witnessed a different Iran."
Referring to the registration of 31 million people in the “Jan Fada” National Campaign, he said the figure demonstrates the greatness of the Iranian nation and the immense capacities rooted in Iranian culture and the Ashura spirit.
Need for Economic and Financial Infrastructure Reform in Relations with China
Addressing his new responsibility regarding China, Ghalibaf said that despite a long history of cooperation, Iran and China have not achieved desired outcomes in many areas and must honestly identify and address the underlying obstacles.
He stressed the need to establish effective financial systems and comprehensive mechanisms in logistics, transportation, technology, and infrastructure, saying Iran must integrate with its partners, especially China, across education, markets, and supply chains within a shared ecosystem.
Iranian People Defeated Major Military Powers
Ghalibaf said Iran's political system, geographic position, national resilience, the intelligence of the Iranian people, and their faith have enabled the country to stand against arrogance and against the US.
Recalling an interview during the war, he said: "Anyone who thinks the US military or the Zionist regime's military is incompetent is mistaken. The US military is the world's foremost military force, and the Zionist regime possesses the region's leading military and nuclear capabilities. Yet our people brought such powers to their knees. That would not have been possible without faith in divine traditions."
If Lifting Sanctions Means Surrender, We Will Never Accept It
Ghalibaf said: "I am not among those who claim sanctions are merely a piece of paper. We experienced 12% industrial growth in the early 2000s, and we can see where we stand today. But if lifting sanctions means surrendering, we will never do so. The Iranian people and the country's officials have shown they are willing to sacrifice their lives, but they will never submit."
He added: "I came here today to say that all of us must take over the frontline from the fighters and stand firm, relieve people of economic pressures, and build the country with strength."
Iran Is an Investment Paradise
Expressing confidence in Iran's future, Ghalibaf said: "I say this without exaggeration: Iran truly is an investment paradise. Even if our country had no oil or mineral resources, its geopolitical position and political geography alone would be enough to place it among the best-positioned countries in the world."
He proposed creating a dashboard that would allow him to monitor daily developments in Iran-China economic relations, identify problems, and coordinate solutions with stakeholders.
Concluding his remarks, Ghalibaf said: "In foreign relations, our primary priority with China is economic cooperation. While we are active in other areas as well, the economy remains our foremost priority across all dimensions."
NOURNEWS