Tehran, SAEDNEWS: Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Qaraei Ashtiani met with his Chinese Counterpart Li Shangfu on the sidelines of the meeting of defense ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries in India, saying that Iran and Republic of China have the proper understanding on the regional and international conditions.
He further added: "With interaction and cooperation between aligned countries, we can face common security challenges and threats at the regional and global level."
Brigadier General Ashtiani, reminding the role of the US in Eastern Europe and West Asia in creating crisis and tension, said: "American policies are a common threat to Iran and China."
Brigadier General Ashtiani, referring to the holding of joint naval exercises among Iran, China, and Russia in the form of a maritime security belt, stated: "This showed that all three countries are against the hegemonic views of the West and the United States, and Iran is ready for joint exercises and drills in the maritime and land fields to expand air defense quantitatively and qualitatively."
Minister of National Defense of China, also assessed Iran-China relations as important due to their historical and civilizational backgrounds and said that expanding relations with Iran is of high and strategic importance for China.
Li Shangfu further emphasized the relationship and interaction between Iran and China given the political resolution of the leaders of the two countries amid important global changes, with the importance of describing and expanding military defense cooperation between the two countries.
In the 22nd summit of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was held on Friday, September 16, 2022, hosted by Uzbekistan, the official membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran to this organization was announced (IRAN PRESS).
Iran, China FMs call for closer ties
