Iran, China must boost cooperation in fight on terrorism: Hassan Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) and Chinese Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan meet in Tehran on November 15, 2016. (Photo by president.ir)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says terrorism and meddling in the internal affairs of other countries are two major threats to world countries, stressing that Iran and China must boost their cooperation to counter acts of terror.

“In order to counter and fight the major threat of terrorism, cooperation between the two countries must increase,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan in Tehran on Tuesday.

He added that Iran has made great efforts to maintain stability and security in the region, stressing that security in Asia, the important region of the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea and the Persian Gulf is indivisible.

“We must maintain security in Asia through cooperation with each other and the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently playing a very important role in establishing international security and stability,” the Iranian president said.

“Tehran welcomes the development of cooperation with Beijing in all fields, including in defense, to promote regional security,” he added.

He said the two countries must continue to boost relations based on mutual respect and common interests.

Rouhani added that the implementation of a nuclear agreement -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany in July 2015 -- created an “favorable atmosphere” for Tehran-Beijing cooperation in energy, defense, economic and nuclear sectors.

‘China firm on continuing cooperation with Iran’

The Chinese defense minister, for his part, said his country is determined to continue cooperation with Iran, as the top influential power in the region, with the purpose of improving regional security and stability.

China's stances on different issues have always been very close to those of Iran, Chang added, saying that Iran is the most important Muslim country in the region and that cooperation with Tehran in the fight against terrorism is crucial.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Chang arrived in Tehran on Sunday for an official three-day visit at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and his Chinese counterpart signed an agreement in Tehran on Monday to boost defense and military cooperation between the two countries.