Iran, ASEAN discuss expansion of cooperation

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari and Tehran-based ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries met in the Iranian capital on Monday, underscoring the willingness of both sides for promotion of ties.

Addressing the meeting, Safari hailed the strong support of the ASEAN countries for Iran’s joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), calling on the nations to fully support Tehran’s demand for being accepted as a party to the ASEAN talks.

Iran has high potentials in the areas of energy, transit, transportation and modern technologies, he said, voicing the Islamic Republic’s readiness to engage in cooperation in these sectors with the ASEAN countries.

He also said that Tehran is interested in practicing different trade mechanisms, including barter trade, to increase the volume of bilateral exchanges.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN ambassadors highlighted Iran’s economic and trade potentials in the region and voiced the bloc’s willingness for more increased cooperation with the West Asian country.

RHM/IRN