Iran, Kazakhstan Keen to Promote Economic Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Kazakh counterpart Erlan Idrissov explored avenues for expanding bilateral trade ties between Tehran and Astana.
In a Tuesday meeting here in Tehran, Zarif said Kazakhstan as one of Iran’s neighboring countries has always been a priority in Tehran’s foreign policy agenda.
“We are keen to have the best relations with Kazakhstan,” Zarif noted, underlining the necessity for increased economic ties between the two sides.
In the wake of upcoming termination of anti-Iran sanctions based on a recent nuclear deal finalized by Iran and world powers, Tehran is ready to deepen its bilateral ties with Astana in different fields including railroad, energy, trade, and investment.
Idrissov, for his part, hailed the abundant capacities for mutual cooperation between the two countries, saying railroad and agriculture are among the most important fields where Iran and Kazakhstan can work together.
“One of the (other) fields of cooperation is the issues related to the Caspian Sea, which is very important to both countries,” the Kazakh minister said, vowing to prepare the grounds for development of economic cooperation between the two.
Idrissov, who arrived in Tehran last week to attend the 3rd Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit held in the Iranian capital, made the visit less than a couple of weeks after his Deputy Rapil Zhoshybayev left Tehran.
In his trip to Tehran, Zhoshybayev had announced that his country is engaged in the nuclear technology activities, and can cooperate with Tehran in this field.
Speaking in a news conference on November 10, Zhoshybayev also added that the Iranian officials have had a “positive” attitude towards the idea of nuclear cooperation with Kazakhstan.