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Iran Offers to Share Anti-Terrorism Expertise with China

Rasa - Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said Tehran is ready to share with China its experiences in fighting against the terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.

News ID: 425026

Date: 14 November 2016 - 17:38

RNA - "We told the Chinese side that the countries' national sovereignty is vitally important to us and therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to share with China the experiences it has gained through joint cooperation with the honorable governments of Syria and Iraq as well as its experience in establishing and developing security in different bordering areas of the Islamic Republic," General Baqeri told reporters after meeting with Chinese Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan in Tehran on Monday.

He added that Iran is also ready to cooperate and exchange its experience with China in sea and air battles as well as confronting threats to nations' sovereignty.

Baqeri also referred to the Chinese side's willingness to cooperate with Iran, and said they pointed to the common threats posed by the world powers and the terrorists to the two countries and stressed that Beijing's cooperation with Tehran serves the interests of both nations.

His remarks came after Iranian Supreme Leader's top adviser for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati stated that Tehran and Beijing have opted for broadening their defense and security ties, anti-terrorism cooperation in particular.

"Defense and security cooperation between Iran and China will expand in future," Velayati told reporters in January.

He underlined that Iran and China will also enhance their cooperation in fighting terrorism and extremism, specially in campaign against the ISIL terrorist group, and said, "The Chinese officials have welcomed cooperation with Iran in fighting terrorists, specially the ISIL."

Velayati noted that the Chinese officials see ISIL as a serious threat, specially to the Western parts of their country.

Earlier today, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and his Chinese counterpart in a meeting in Tehran signed an agreement to further develop defense and military cooperation between the two countries, which also included all-out campaign against terrorism and insecurity in the region.

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