ID :
37272
Thu, 12/25/2008 - 09:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/37272
The shortlink copeid
M'SIA, IRAN CONSOLIDATE TIES WITH NEW INITIATIVES
Muin Abdul Majid
TEHRAN, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Iran Tuesday opened a new chapter
in their relations with the signing of three documents here, one of which paves
the way for the Proton Gen.2 model to be assembled in Iran through a
completely-knocked-down (CKD) arrangement from April 2009.
The ceremony was the highlight of Malaysian Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's four-day visit to this Islamic republic which ends
Wednesday.
Besides the deal between Proton Holdings Berhad and its Iranian partner
Zagross Khodro, Kuala Lumpur and Tehran also inked two memorandums of
understanding (MoU) on cooperation in combating trafficking in narcotic drugs,
psychotropic substances and precursors, as well as on science and
technology.
Abdullah and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad witnessed the event held
at the President's Office, which was also the venue for yesterday's talks
between the two Muslim leaders.
Present were Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim and Home Minister
Syed Hamid Albar.
In his remarks Tuesday, Abdullah also disclosed that one of Iran's leading
banks, Mellat Bank, had received approval to open an offshore branch in
Malaysia's offshore financial centre, Labuan, that could provide support to
the development of various economic activities between Malaysia and
Iran.
He expressed hope that whatever had been agreed upon by the relevant
parties would be implemented as soon as possible as the initiatives could
further enhance Malaysia-Iran relations.
"In a way, this current visit of mine serves the purpose of reviewing the
progress we have made since my last visit here in 2005. And I am happy to
report that Malaysia and Iran have made progress in various areas of our common
endeavour.
"Our trade volume has increased and so has tourism. Malaysian companies
have
made new investments in Iran, especially in infrastructure construction," he
said, giving some of the highlights of Kuala Lumpur-Tehran ties.
"We have established joint ventures in information communication
technology,
we have cooperated in certain areas of research and development, and the
Malaysian national oil corporation, Petronas, continues to consolidate its
operations in Iran," he added.
As rain poured down on Tehran on the third day of the official visit,
Ahmadinejad later bade farewell to Abdullah at a special ceremony in the
compound of the President's Office, during which he accompanied the Malaysian
leader in inspecting a guard-of-honour.
On his interaction with Ahmadinejad while in Tehran, Abdullah said they
used the opportunity to exchange views not only on enhancing bilateral
relations, but also how Iran and Malaysia could work together on other issues of
common concern.
They agreed in particular to increase efforts towards the well-being of
other developing countries, especially member states of the Organisation of the
Islamic Conference.
"Indeed, Malaysia and Iran share common views on many international issues
affecting world peace and security. We have pledged to work closely,
especially in multilateral forums such as the United Nations," said the prime
minister.
The MoU on cooperation to combat drug trafficking was inked by Syed Hamid
for Malaysia while Iran was represented by his counterpart, Sadeq Mahsouli. The
one on science and technology cooperation was signed by Rais and Iranian Deputy
Science and Technology Minister Vaez Zaden.
The Proton-Zagross Khodro agreement was inked by Proton Holdings Berhad
managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir and Zagross
managing director Siroos Gholami. Also present were Proton Holdings chairman
Mohammed Azlan Hashim and Zagross chairman Dariush Gholami.
At the question-and-answer session following the signing, Abdullah said
countries had scrambled to provide stimulus packages to soften the blow of the
current global financial crisis.
He said besides the financial meltdown, the world also had to grapple with
problems like climate change and food shortages.
According to him, the world would be a better place if there was food and
energy sufficiency and people did not feel that their safety was being
threatened.
-- BERNAMA
TEHRAN, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Iran Tuesday opened a new chapter
in their relations with the signing of three documents here, one of which paves
the way for the Proton Gen.2 model to be assembled in Iran through a
completely-knocked-down (CKD) arrangement from April 2009.
The ceremony was the highlight of Malaysian Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's four-day visit to this Islamic republic which ends
Wednesday.
Besides the deal between Proton Holdings Berhad and its Iranian partner
Zagross Khodro, Kuala Lumpur and Tehran also inked two memorandums of
understanding (MoU) on cooperation in combating trafficking in narcotic drugs,
psychotropic substances and precursors, as well as on science and
technology.
Abdullah and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad witnessed the event held
at the President's Office, which was also the venue for yesterday's talks
between the two Muslim leaders.
Present were Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim and Home Minister
Syed Hamid Albar.
In his remarks Tuesday, Abdullah also disclosed that one of Iran's leading
banks, Mellat Bank, had received approval to open an offshore branch in
Malaysia's offshore financial centre, Labuan, that could provide support to
the development of various economic activities between Malaysia and
Iran.
He expressed hope that whatever had been agreed upon by the relevant
parties would be implemented as soon as possible as the initiatives could
further enhance Malaysia-Iran relations.
"In a way, this current visit of mine serves the purpose of reviewing the
progress we have made since my last visit here in 2005. And I am happy to
report that Malaysia and Iran have made progress in various areas of our common
endeavour.
"Our trade volume has increased and so has tourism. Malaysian companies
have
made new investments in Iran, especially in infrastructure construction," he
said, giving some of the highlights of Kuala Lumpur-Tehran ties.
"We have established joint ventures in information communication
technology,
we have cooperated in certain areas of research and development, and the
Malaysian national oil corporation, Petronas, continues to consolidate its
operations in Iran," he added.
As rain poured down on Tehran on the third day of the official visit,
Ahmadinejad later bade farewell to Abdullah at a special ceremony in the
compound of the President's Office, during which he accompanied the Malaysian
leader in inspecting a guard-of-honour.
On his interaction with Ahmadinejad while in Tehran, Abdullah said they
used the opportunity to exchange views not only on enhancing bilateral
relations, but also how Iran and Malaysia could work together on other issues of
common concern.
They agreed in particular to increase efforts towards the well-being of
other developing countries, especially member states of the Organisation of the
Islamic Conference.
"Indeed, Malaysia and Iran share common views on many international issues
affecting world peace and security. We have pledged to work closely,
especially in multilateral forums such as the United Nations," said the prime
minister.
The MoU on cooperation to combat drug trafficking was inked by Syed Hamid
for Malaysia while Iran was represented by his counterpart, Sadeq Mahsouli. The
one on science and technology cooperation was signed by Rais and Iranian Deputy
Science and Technology Minister Vaez Zaden.
The Proton-Zagross Khodro agreement was inked by Proton Holdings Berhad
managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir and Zagross
managing director Siroos Gholami. Also present were Proton Holdings chairman
Mohammed Azlan Hashim and Zagross chairman Dariush Gholami.
At the question-and-answer session following the signing, Abdullah said
countries had scrambled to provide stimulus packages to soften the blow of the
current global financial crisis.
He said besides the financial meltdown, the world also had to grapple with
problems like climate change and food shortages.
According to him, the world would be a better place if there was food and
energy sufficiency and people did not feel that their safety was being
threatened.
-- BERNAMA
