China's deputy chief of staff meets with IRIN and IRGC in Tehran

PLAN Admiral Sun Jianguo with IRIN Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, on 14OCT15 in Tehran

According to Reuters:

China wants to deepen military ties with Iran, a senior Chinese admiral was quoted as saying on Thursday after a meeting with Iran's defense minister in Tehran.

Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army, told Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan that China paid great attention to developing relations with Iran, China's Defence Ministry said.

"The aim of this delegation's visit is to further promote friendship, deepen cooperation and exchange views with Iran on bilateral military ties and issues of mutual concern," Sun said, according to the statement.

The trip will also "promote the preservation of international and regional peace and stability", he added.

COMMENTARY: As seen in this post's photos, PLAN Admiral Sun Jianguo, who is Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, met with IRIN Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and his staff of naval officers.

Sayyari stated that Iran and China have agreed to increase collaboration in educational and technical training centers. He further stated the Chinese deputy chief of staff discussed and agreed upon the issue of providing security and safety for merchant shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and South East Asia. [source: Mashregh News]

PLAN Admiral Sun Jianguo with IRGC Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Armed Forces General Staff Intelligence and Operations Deputy, on 14OCT15 in Tehran.

COMMENTARY: PLAN Admiral Sun Jianguo  also met with IRGC Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff Intelligence and Operations Deputy said that the two discussed measures to strengthen bilateral defense relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and People's Republic of China. [source: Defa Press]

IRGC Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Armed Forces General Staff Intelligence and Operations Deputy

PLAN Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army

Chinese and Iranian military conference held on 14OCT15 in Tehran

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Iran Navy commander meets China's defense minister in Beijing

 

Above: Commander of Iran Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari with China Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan in Beijing, dated 23OCT14 .

 According to Xinhua via Ministry of National Defense The People's Republic of China:

Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan on Thursday met with visiting Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari on naval cooperation.

Chang said the two armed forces have seen good cooperation on mutual visits, personnel training and other fields in recent years. Exchanges between the two navies have been fruitful and their warships have paid successful visits to each other.

Chang, also a state councilor, stressed China is willing to work with Iran to further pragmatic cooperation and strengthen military-to-military ties.

Praising the achievements of the Chinese Navy, Sayyari said Iran attaches great importance to its relationship with China and is ready to enhance bilateral exchanges to push forward cooperation between the two armed forces, especially in naval cooperation.

COMMENTARY: According to DefaPress, IRIN Commander Rear Admiral Sayyari visited the North Sea Fleet Headquarters at Qingdao Naval Base on the second leg of his China trip, aimed at strengthening military ties and bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Beijing.

China's People's Liberation Army Daily separately reported that Sayyari had been given tours of a Chinese submarine and warships, where he "listened to an introduction on equipment ability and weapons systems". [source: Reuters]

North Sea Fleet (NSF) includes Jianggezhuang Nuclear Submarine Base, home to five Type 091 Han class attack submarines and China's single Type 092 Xia class ballistic missile submarine.

As reported by UOI, earlier in the week Rear Admiral Sayyari met with Commander of Shanghai Naval Base Senior Captain Wang Yung, of the East Sea Fleet (ESF).

File photo: PLAN Type 092 (406) Xia class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)

Iran Navy commander tours Shanghai Naval Base

Above: Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and his host Senior Captain Wang Yung at Shanghai Naval Base

According to Irib.ir:

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and Shanghai Naval Base Commander Wang Yung stressed the vital importance of the expansion of Tehran-Beijing military cooperation for the reestablishment of sustainable peace and tranquility to the region.

Sayyari, who is in China at the invitation of the Chinese Navy, paid a visit to the Shanghai naval base on Monday afternoon.

The Commander of the Shanghai Base welcomed Rear Admiral Sayyari and the accompanying delegation, and called the visit unique in the history of military-naval cooperation between the two countries.

He said that this is the first ever visit of an Iranian Navy commander to China and called it a turning point in bilateral naval ties.

Rear Admiral Sayyari, for his part, referred to historical background of bilateral ties in the naval ground and stressed that promotion of friendly cooperation between the two forces has special importance for Iran.

He expressed the hope that his visit to China would pave grounds for bilateral cooperation between the two naval forces.

Sayyari arrived in China on Monday morning to confer with senior Chinese military officials on the expansion of Tehran-Beijing military relations.

A high-ranking military delegation is accompanying Admiral Sayyari in his trip.

COMMENTARY: Observing an increasing uptick in official naval visits taking place among the Iran Navy and PLA Navy, as well as Iran Navy and Russian Navy. Military exchanges include:

- 19DEC12, Russian Navy vessel docks at Iran's port city of Bandar Abbas

- 21APR13, Russian Navy vessels dock at Iran's port city of Bandar Abbas

- 04MAY13, Iranian Navy vessels dock at China's port city of Zhangjiagang

- 30JUN13, Iran Navy vessels dock at Russia's port city of Astrakhan

- 20OCT13, Official visit to Iran by by Russian Air Force Commander

- 07MAY14, Official visit to China by Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan

- 23MAY14, Official visit to Russia by Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan

- 20SEP14, Chinese Navy vessels dock at Iran's port city of Bandar Abbas

- 13OCT14, Russian Navy vessels dock at Iran's port city of Bandar Anzali

- 20OCT14, Iran Navy commander visits Shanghai Naval Base

Senior Captain Wang Yung presents gift to Rear Admiral Sayyari at Shanghai Naval Base

Photos: Fars News Agency

PLAN 17th naval task force visits Bandar Abbas

Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Ships

One of two PLAN naval ships from 17th naval task force of the East Sea Fleet, docked at Bandar Abbas: Changchun (150) Type 052C class destroyer  Second ship is Changzhou (549) Type 054A class frigate. PLAN vessels are on return voyage from mission at the Gulf of Aden.

Stern of PLAN Changchun (150) Type 052C destroyer

Crew members of the PLAN destroyer Changchun

Visible on Changchun helicopter deck: PLANAF Harbin Z-9C ASW helicopter

Z-9C ASW helicopter crew, background right

Rear Admiral Huang Xinjian, commander of the 17th Chinese escort naval fleet with IRIN captain

Bandari welcome for Rear Admiral Huang Xinjian

Meeting of IRIN and PLAN officers at First Naval Zone HQ, Bandar Abbas. As of this writing, it's being reported IRIN and PLAN vessels currently conducting joint naval drill in Persian Gulf.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Iran Navy ships dock at Zhangjiagang, China - Video (Persian)

IRINS Sabalan (73) frigate and IRINS Kharg (431) replenishment ship of the 24th Fleet task force have docked at the port city of Zhangjiagang in the People's Republic of China.

 

Left: IRINS Kharg port of call Zhangjiagang, China

Right: Contingent of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) officers board IRIN vessel,
saluting officers and sailors of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy

VIDEO: