China has been accepted as the dialogue partnership country of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) at a special meeting of the association held between January 22-23 in Oman.

Founded in March 1997 and with headquarters in Mauritius, the IORARC is the only organization of countries around the Indian Ocean rim that promotes their economic cooperation. The association has 19 members at the moment.

The association's objectives are to promote trade and investment and enhance coordination in international economic affairs on the basis of respecting sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful co-existence, equity and mutual benefit, and reaching unanimity through consultation.

China expressed the hope of becoming a dialogue partnership country of the IORARC last September.