Iranian FM to Attend Tehran-Ashgabat Joint Economic Commission

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian top diplomat Ali Akbar Salehi is due to visit Ashgabat next week to attend a meeting of Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission.
The commission seeks to review mutual economic relations and ways to expand them.

Also Iranian President Special Envoy for Caspian Sea Affairs Mohammad Mehdi Akhoundzadeh will visit Turkmenistan next week for talks with authorities to discuss bilateral cooperation on the Caspian Sea as well as its legal issues.

Earlier this month, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle-East and Common Wealth Affairs Mohammad Reza Sheibani submitted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's message to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

During the meeting held in Ashgabat last week, Berdimuhamedow praised the existing level of the ties between the two countries, but meantime called for the further expansion of cooperation with Iran.

The two sides exchanged views over the existing avenues for the further bolstering of cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat, and also discussed the latest developments in the region.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister reiterated that Tehran attaches much importance to its ties with Ashgabat, as "Turkmenistan is of much importance to Iran's foreign policy."

In relevant remarks late in April, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi lauded the close ties between Iran and Turkmenistan, and underlined Tehran's resolve to further promote bilateral relations with Ashgabat.

"Iran is a reliable friend and partner of Turkmenistan," Salehi said in a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Rasit Meredow in Ashgabat at the time.