Iran Ready To Cooperate In African Development: Salehi

Addis Ababa, Jan 29, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi here on Sunday voiced Iran’s readiness to help develop the African continent including Ethiopia in different areas. Salehi made the remark in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn. Salehi is in Addis Ababa to attend the 18th summit meeting of African Union (AU). During the meeting, Salehi outlined Iran’s principal policy of promoting relations with African nations and enhancing economic, industrial and agricultural cooperation with them. He further stressed the need for implementation of agreements already reached between the two countries and invited the Ethiopian minister to visit Iran to attend the 6th Joint Economic Commission of the two countries to be held in Tehran. Desalegn valued cooperation with Iran as positive and stressed the importance of exchange of technological experiences between the two nations. He also said his country was keen to have more Iranian investors in Ethiopia. Meanwhile, the two ministers stressed the importance of peace, stability and tranquility for the African continent. The 18th AU summit meeting with the motto of “expansion of trade ties between African states” and with participation of heads of 54 member countries and officials from countries with observer status will be held on January 29-30 in Addis Ababa, the AU headquarters. Salehi is representing Iran in the meeting as an observer./end