FM Meets Afghan President

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Thursday conferred with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Bureau, Mottaki noted the positive and constructive steps taken in the two countries’ mutual ties, and further reminded that the continuous and regular exchange of views between the two states’ senior officials illustrate the two countries’ growing relations in all areas.

He also reminded that Iran and Afghanistan’s cooperation in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and other regional and international bodies has helped to the further promotion of their relations.

Also referring to the significance of Afghanistan’s developments and security, the Iranian top official stressed that his country views strengthening, security and progress of Afghanistan as those of its own, and voiced Tehran’s preparedness to help Kabul in the aforesaid areas.

Briefing Karzai about the results of his meetings with the Afghan officials, he mentioned that the current bilateral trade volume stands at 500 million dollars, which during the second session of the two sides’ joint economic commission was agreed to reach one billion dollars next year.

For his part, Afghan president Hamid Karzai welcomed the increase in the two countries’ trade exchanges and reiterated that the historical and age-old ties and the resolve of the officials of the two states have provided a good opportunity to upgrade overall ties.

Karzai further stressed, “Iran is undoubtedly our friend and we do appreciate Iran’s assistance in the reconstruction work in Afghanistan during the past five years.”