Defense Minister Visiting China

Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami, who is  in China, underlined the importance of closer bilateral relations in key military sectors. Speaking to reporters on his arrival in Beijing late on  Thursday, Hatami described Iran-China ties as “age-old and strategic” and said the countries’ leaders have often called on boosting cooperation, Tasnim News Agency reported. He said a major part of strategic two-way ties is related to the defense sector, adding that the two countries enjoy a long-standing defense relationship starting from the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The general pointed to the objectives behind his trip to the East Asian country and said he would confer with senior Chinese officials and visit military and industrial sites in the country. Iran and China have close diplomatic, economic, trade and energy ties, and in recent years have also given impetus to military collaboration. In November 2016, the defense ministers of Iran and China signed an agreement in Tehran to enhance defense cooperation.