Iran, China Stage Joint Naval Drills In PG

Bandar Abbas, Hurmuzgan Prov, Sept 25, IRNA – The Iranian and Chinese naval forces staged joint maneuvers in the Persian Gulf waters on Wednesday. The drills came after a Chinese fleet docked at the port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday. In their five-day stay in the southern Iranian city, the Chinese naval forces got familiar with the latest achievements made by Iran in the area of defense. Rear Admial Hossein Azad, a top-ranking Iranian navy commander, said boosting technical capabilities, expansion of naval interaction between the two countries, exercising maritime relief operation as well as getting prepared to deal with maritime disasters were among the major goals of the maneuvers. The message of the joint drills was peace and security in the light of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the commander said. He said that the drills were organized by Iranian ambassador in Beijing and Iran's military attaché to the country. Meanwhile, the commander of the Chinese fleet said that after completing their mission in protecting trade vessels and countering pirates, the fleet docked at Bandar Abbas to strengthen friendship between the two nations and naval forces of Iran and China as well. Referring to longstanding relations between Iran and China, he expressed hope that bilateral relations will further promote in the future. After the drills, the Chinese fleet left Persian Gulf waters./end