TEHRAN (FNA)- Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi,in a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi onTuesday, invited the neighboring state to join a tripartite war-game of hiscountry with Russia and China.
“We are waiting for Pakistan to join the Maritime Security Belt War-Game,”Rear Admiral Khanzadi said, during the meeting with Admiral Abbasi today inPakistan, referring to a joint naval drill between Iran, China and Russiain the Indian Ocean, scheduled for December 27, 2019.
“As of now, we are ready to dispatch fleets to Pakistan’s ports, and webelieve that the resolve exists for further interactions between the twosides,” Khanzadi said at the meeting.
He then noted the presidency of Iranian Navy over the Indian Ocean NavalSymposium, adding, “During this term, we made a lot of efforts, andPakistan’s cooperation has been highly effective.”
He then called for collective cooperation and vigilance of neighboringcountries to foil the undermining and destabilizing measures by theenemies, stressing that the region would be safer without the presence offoreign troops.
The Pakistan commander, for his part, said the China-Pakistan maritimecorridor is a good opportunity for expanding economic relations, and Irancan serve as a good linking point between the West and the East.
He also thanked the Iranian Navy’s invitation for taking part at the jointwar-game, adding, “The level of relations between the two countries’ naviesis not satisfactory, and we need to increase our role in the region in thisregard.”
Last Tuesday, Rear Admiral Khanzadi met with Chinese Deputy Chief of theJoint Staff Department Lieutenant General Shao Yuanming in Tehran where hesaid, “The joint drills of Iran, China and Russia codenamed Marine SecurityBelt will be staged on December 27.”
In relevant remarks in September, Chief of Staff of the Iranian ArmedForces Major General Mohammad Baqeri said that Tehran and Beijing weredetermined to boost their military ties in parallel with the expansion ofrelations in other areas.
Major General Baqeri, who was on an official visit to China, said that Iranand China were willing to develop long-term defense and militarycooperation in parallel with the political and economic ties.
He told reporters that relations between Iran and China has been promotedto a strategic level since 2016 and the comprehensive plan of developmenthas been exchanged between the two states.
General Baqeri said that China is an important country in Asia and in theworld as well, adding that cooperation with China in various fields is ofprime importance to Iran.