Iranian FM Meets Kazakh Counterpart

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with his Kazakh counterpart Kasymzhomart Tokayev on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two sides explored avenues for consolidating mutual ties and exchanged views on regional issues.

Noting the two countries’ desirable ties, Tokayev described Mottaki’s visit to his country as prompt and crucially important for the two states’ relations, considering the sensitive conditions and current developments of the Middle-East region.

He also said that compilation of the Caspian Sea document reflects this vital message that the Caspian Sea must be a region of peace, stability and friendship.

The official further called for joint venture investments and implementation of gigantic projects in the two countries, and stressed that Iran and Kazakhstan must increase interactions as two strategic partners.

He also lauded the two countries’ constructive cooperation in the Asian summit, and defined Iran’s assessment of regional developments in Afghanistan and Iraq as significant.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki expressed pleasure with the two countries’ ties, and mentioned that the visit to Iran by the Kazakh foreign minister 6 months ago and the meeting of the two presidents in the Shanghai summit have left significant effects on the consolidation of the two states’ relations.

Since the said meetings, the positive trend of the talks and cooperation by the two countries has caused a USD100 million increase in Iran-Kazakhstan exchanges on a monthly basis, he said.

Mottaki also stated that the two countries’ exchanges would hit USD1.5 b by the end of the current year.

He also said that the Caspian summit to be held in Iran next year would pave the way for the further development of regional cooperation in line with preserving joint interests.

Mottaki expressed hope that the foreign ministerial summit of the Caspian Sea Littoral States would serve as a prelude to the success of the summit of the aforesaid states.

He also hoped that the upcoming visit to Tehran by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev would be a long stride in the reinvigoration of the two countries’ relations in all areas.