Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Vietnam yesterday on the first visit by an Iranian president in 17 years, as the sanctions-hit Islamic Republic seeks to strengthen ties with allies outside the West.
Ahmadinejad, making a two-day stop in Hanoi on the way home from the Bali Democracy Forum, discussed economic links and other potential areas of co-operation with President Truong Tan Sang.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ahmadinejad hailed the �very friendly� relations between the two countries and said both sides aimed to strengthen their bilateral ties.
�We are determined to extend co-operation in different fields, including (the) economy, agriculture, industry, science and technology, culture, tourism and sport,� he said, speaking through an interpreter.
It is the highest-level Iranian visit since 1995 to the communist nation, which is generally seen as supportive of Tehran�s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Sang said co-operation between the two countries would be �accelerated� in the future. Ahmadinejad was also due to meet Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung for talks on trade and investment.
The two countries - which established diplomatic ties in 1973 - have previously signed a range of agreements to co-operate on oil and gas and infrastructure projects.
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