Iranian and Pakistani presidents are expected to sign by next month the final contract on a $7.4 bln pipeline project which would take Iran’s gas to Pakistan and India, a senior Iranian oil ministry official said here on Saturday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to pay a daylong visit to Bahrain following his participation in the upcoming summit of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Saudi Arabia next week.

Vice-speaker of Thailand’s parliament stressed the need for Asian governments to consolidate ties and strengthen peace and friendship in the continent.