By the end of the year 2003, a disastrous earthquake shattered the city Bam in the Southeastern Province Kerman in Iran, bringing tremendous casualties and property loss. The government of People's Republic made an immediate response of sending a Chinese rescue team to take part in the humanitarian rescue work, and provided disaster-relief goods valued at RMB 15,000,000 to Iran. This is the second time for China to send its rescue team to over-sea countries. And the disaster-relief aid is of the highest value of all the humanitarian aids from the Chinese government to foreign countries. These showed the friendship and close ties of both the people and the government of the People's Republic of China to the Iranian side.

     On Jun. 19, 2004, the ceremony of signing the Handover Certificate was held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran. H.E. Mr. Liu Zhentang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the Chinese side, and Mr. Ziyaran, Director of International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the Iranian side, representing both governments, signed the Handover Certificate. Mr. Ziyaran expressed his sincere appreciation to the people and government of China for the donation. "A friend in need is a friend in deed." he said.