The Chinese defense minister has told the visiting head of the Iranian Navy that Beijing wants to strengthen military ties with Iran.
Chinese state media quoted Chang Wanquan as telling Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari on October 23 that the two armed forces have seen "good cooperation on mutual visits, personnel training, and other fields in recent years."
Sayyari said Iran is ready to “push forward cooperation between the two armed forces, especially in naval cooperation."
He was also quoted as saying he hoped Tehran and Beijing could cooperate on antipiracy operations.
China is Iran's top oil buyer.
A participant at the nuclear talks with Iran, Bejing has urged a negotiated solution to the standoff over the Islamic republic's nuclear program and resisted efforts to place sanctions on Tehran.
