Qatar, Iran Hold Joint Coast Guard Meeting to Boost Field Cooperation

Dhows, traditional sailing vessels, with Qatar flags anchored in Doha [Getty Images]
Dhows, traditional sailing vessels, with Qatar flags anchored in Doha [Getty Images]
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Qatar, Iran Hold Joint Coast Guard Meeting to Boost Field Cooperation

Dhows, traditional sailing vessels, with Qatar flags anchored in Doha [Getty Images]
Dhows, traditional sailing vessels, with Qatar flags anchored in Doha [Getty Images]

The 15th joint coast guard meeting between Iran and Qatar was held Sunday in Tehran to develop field cooperation and boost bilateral good-neighborly relations, according to Iranian media.

The Iranian side was headed by Border Guard Commander Brigadier General Ghasem Rezaei and the Qatari delegation was headed by Lieutenant Colonel Abdulaziz Ali al-Mohannadi, assistant director-general of the country’s Coasts and Borders Security, according to IRNA.

Ties between Iran and Qatar have been bolstered since the GCC decided to boycott Doha in June 2017 after accusing it of supporting terrorism.

Last week, Tehran also received UAE Coast Guard Commander Brigadier General Mohammed Ali Musleh al-Ahbabi to discuss means of enhancing border security between the two countries.

The two sides signed on Thursday a maritime border cooperation deal and agreed to hold meetings to discuss border cooperation every six months.

Qatar-funded media has launched a propaganda campaign against UAE's effort to hold border cooperation talks with Iran.

It exploited UAE's move to disrupt the Gulf alliance despite the official announcement by Abu Dhabi that its talks with Iran were routine and didn’t reflect any shift in regional policy.



China Says Willing to Work with Australia to Maintain Momentum of Improvement of Ties

The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
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China Says Willing to Work with Australia to Maintain Momentum of Improvement of Ties

The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo
The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said China was willing to work with Australia to prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges and maintain the momentum of improving ties, according to a statement from his ministry, Reuters reported.

Wang made the remarks on Friday at a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on the sidelines of a regional summit in Malaysia.