Iran-Turkmenistan Call For Expansion Of Trade Exchanges

Tehran, July 17, IRNA - Visiting Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov conferred on Monday with Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on expansion of mutual trade exchanges to the leve of dlrs five billion annually. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 12th session of Iran-Turkmenistan Economic Commission in Tehran. The two sides' presidents are determined to make use of existing potentials to this effect, said the two foreign ministers. The two sides should endeavor to increase the figure to a higher level, they said. The Islamic Republic of Iran as a reliable friend of Turkmenistan spares no efforts to render more services and broaden bilateral cooperation which requires collective cooperation in handling joint projects, Salehi said. Iran is ready to expand mutual, multilateral and regional cooperation with Turkmenistan, said the Iranian foreign minister. The Turkmen foreign minister, for his part, conveyed the warm greetings of the Turkmen president and said Iran is regarded as a brotherly country and the two sides should try to further promote their relations and cooperation. Iran and Turkmenistan share common stands on international developments, he said. Turkmenistan is ready to increase current level of economic cooperation with Iran in various fields such as energy, agriculture, management, water, road, rail and sea transportations, communications, road construction, commerce, cultural affairs, science, education and technology within the frameworks of Iran-Turkmenistan Economic Commission, he said. Some 150 Iranian companies and firms are now active in Turkmenistan in various development and industrial projects and Turkmenistan welcomes more active role of the Iranian companies. The two sides also reviewed expansion of consular and border cooperation and called for easing of red-tapes at customs houses./end