Tehran, Beijing sign MoU on defensive-military cooperation

Tehran, Nov 14, IRNA – Visiting China's Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan conferred on Monday with Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan on issues of mutual interest. In the meeting, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for expansion of defensive and military cooperation in line with both sides' interests. The two ministers also reviewed issues of mutual interest along with regional and global developments. They also exchanged views on expansion of defensive and military cooperation as well as fight again terrorism within framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Expansion of long time defensive and military cooperation will be among top priority of Iran's defense doctrine and the current visit of the Chinese defense minister is in line with the same goal, Dehqan said. Restoration of peace and stability in Asia and Pacific region are among responsibilities of all countries in the region, he said. Today, the Middle East region suffered from aliens' interference has turned to the center of crisis and insecurity in the world resulting to bringing up terrorists and spreading them to all parts of the world, Dehqan said. Terrorists who won support of the US and some countries in the region are now spreading to Europe, central Asia, Caucasia and other regions and their threats are now regarded as regional and global challenge, said the Iranian minister. Fight against terrorism requires sincere cooperation of all countries, he said. With reliance to its invaluable experiences in fight against terrorism, Iran voices readiness for a collective strive to deal with the threat and believes that China can play a very significant role to this end, he said. He expressed the hope that the current visit of the Chinese defense minister help open a new chapter in broadening defensive and military cooperation between the two countries which leave positive impact on bolstering of peace, stability and security of the region and the world. 1378/IRNA