Iranian FM Goes to S. Africa for ‘Full Revival’ of Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian traveled to South Africa on Wednesday to attend a meeting of the joint commission of economic cooperation.
The top Iranian diplomat left Tehran for Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking to reporters on board the plane, Amirabdollahian said that during the visit, he will co-chair the joint commission of economic cooperation between Iran and South Africa, which will be held after a three-year hiatus following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the plans on the agenda of the trip is the “full revival of relations” between the two countries, he added.
The foreign minister noted that he will hold meetings with his South African counterpart and president on the sidelines of the economic meeting to discuss the status of bilateral relations and a series of major international issues.
Since Monday, a team of officials from 12 ministries and representatives of the private sectors has been holding talks in South Africa about various issues on cooperation between the two countries and to prepare the documents relating to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’ upcoming visit to South Africa, he added.
According to the foreign minister, Raisi has been invited by his South African counterpart to take part in a meeting of the friends of BRICS, known as BRICS Plus, due to be held at the level of heads of state on August 24.
Describing South Africa as a very important country in Africa with which Iran has maintained age-old relations, Amirabdollahian said the Iranian president is scheduled to pay another visit to South Africa for bilateral talks in autumn.