Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan voiced Beijing’s willingness to expand military cooperation and defense relations with Tehran, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
“The two countries have developed sound bilateral relations, deepened political mutual trust and made achievements in trade and energy cooperation,” Chang said in a meeting with visiting Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Qadir Nezamipour in Beijing on Tuesday.
He underlined that under the new circumstances, China-Iran cooperation faces an important opportunity, and China is willing to cooperate with Iran to make new contribution to bilateral ties.
Nezamipour, for his part, said he hoped for boosting communication, more pragmatic cooperation and a higher level of military relations between the two countries.
In a relevant development in April 2015, Iranian and Chinese officials in a meeting in Moscow underlined the two countries' determination to further strengthen military relations.
“Iran and China have enjoyed good relations since long ago and the Iranian Armed Forces are our good friends,” Chinese Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan said in a meeting with former Iranian defense minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan on the sidelines of the Fourth International Security Meeting.
“The current conditions in the world necessitate strengthening and consolidating bilateral and multilateral defense and military cooperation,” he added.
Chang also underscored the necessity for implementation of defensive agreements signed by the two countries.
Dehqan, for his part, pointed to Iran and China’s highly successful experience in defensive cooperation, and said the two countries' determination to deepen cooperation can further reinvigorate their bonds and relations.
Iran and China have expanded relations in different trade, economic, military and scientific fields in recent years.
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced in October 2014 that Chinese navy officials were much willing to enhance mutual cooperation with Iran.
Speaking to reporters on after his meeting with Chang Wanquan, Sayyari said that the Chinese military favors to expand naval ties with Iran.
“Both sides underlined the need to promote military and naval cooperation,” he noted.
Also in September 2014, a detachment of China’s fleet of warships docked in Iran’s territorial waters in the Southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
It was the first time that a Chinese flotilla sailed and berthed in Iran’s territorial waters.
An Iranian flotilla was in the Sea of China in 2013 to deliver Iran’s message of peace and friendship to the Chinese.
