It may seem ironic,和it…systems并列。it…systems是主语从句,it为形式主语,that…systems是真正主语。in East Asia作定语修饰literacy rates。than后省略与主句相同的部分,还原是literacy rates in other areas of comparable economic level but simpler writing systems tend to run。of…systems作定语修饰other areas,comparable economic level和a simpler writing systems并列。
译文:这似乎很讽刺,但绝非巧合的是,东亚地区识字率往往比经济水平类似但书写体系简单的其他地区高得多。