Iran, Turkmenistan Ink MoU on Consular Cooperation
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The 10th session of Iran-Turkmenistan joint consular, border and customs commission wrapped up in Tehran with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two neighboring countries on consular and border cooperation.
The MoU was signed by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriate Affairs Hassan Qashqavi and Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Vafa Hajiyev, who co-chaired the commission.
During the two-day event, the Iranian and Turkmen officials studied ways for further expanding bilateral interactions.
Other topics addressed in the joint commission included facilitating the visits by the two countries’ citizens and visa requirement, customs and border services.
Tehran has the largest volume of trade exchange with Turkmenistan after Russia.
The value of tarde between Iran and Turkmenistan is estimated to be around $5 bln a year, and Iranian and Turkmen officials have expressed the hope that the figure could reach $10 bln in the coming years.
On August 5, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani had also praised the close ties between Iran and Turkmenistan, and emphasized the need for further enhancement of bilateral relations between the two nations.
In a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at the time, President Rouhani pointed to amicable relations between Tehran and Ashgabat, saying, “Bilateral relations in economic, political and cultural fields will further develop in the future.”