Meeting of Iran's, China's Top Military Leaders Worries West

October 24, 2003

China's senior military leader met with a delegation of Iranian military officials earlier this month, fueling new worries over Chinese missile and weapons shipments to Iran.

PLA Gen. Qian Shugen, deputy chief of the general staff, met on Oct. 11 with Brig. Gen. Muhammad Hejazi, commander of the volunteer forces of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps and with other officials of the Iranian Basij, or voluntary military forces.

Qian told the Iranians that China and Iran have ancient civilizations and that there exists a "traditional friendship" between the two nations.

The Chinese military is willing to work with the Iranian military to "steadily develop friendship and cooperation between the two armed forces," he said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps have been the key element in supporting international terrorism, including the Lebanese Hizbullah and elements of the Al Qaida terrorism network.

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