Iran's President Urges Further Expansion of Ties with Kazakhstan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed his appreciation for the progress achieved in bilateral ties with Kazakhstan and called for further expansion, particularly in economic and commercial areas.
The remarks were made during a meeting with Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov in Tehran on Wednesday.
Raisi acknowledged the "remarkable" growth in bilateral trade over the past year but noted that it is not proportional to the capacities of the two countries.
He urged efforts towards its further enhancement, including investment in transit infrastructures from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf, increased cooperation in agriculture, and innovative mechanisms in the monetary and banking areas.
Raisi also stressed the need for further attention to the development of cultural and civilizational relations, including the establishment of a joint cultural committee.
Smailov expressed his country's interest in the development and deepening of its ties with the Islamic Republic, acknowledging likewise that the current level of the ties did not properly befit the capacities at hand.
"The volume of the countries' relations is not proportional to the existing capacities," he said, announcing that a "roadmap" had, therefore, been devised for the expansion of future bilateral cooperation.
The Kazakh official also expressed hope that speeding up of implementation of existing agreements between Tehran and Astana would result in increased cooperation between the countries and, in turn, bring along "palpable" achievements for the two nations.