TEHRAN (FNA)- Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev underlined that his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani's visit to Astana should be seen as a milestone in the expansion of the relations between the two countries.


"A new chapter will open in bilateral ties between Astana and Tehran by President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Kazakhstan," Nazarbayev said after meeting President Rouhani in Astana on Tuesday.

He also described President Rouhani's visit and his meetings with high-ranking Kazakh officials as well as the joint meeting of the two countries' traders and businessmen as a proper opportunity for consolidating the relations between the two countries.

"Kazakhstan sees the Islamic Republic of Iran as an important partner in the world and a good neighbor in the Caspian Sea region," Nazarbayev said, and added, "We are rest assured that the nuclear negotiations (between Iran and the world powers) will yield the desired results and this will have positive effects on the development of Iran's economy and the relations between Tehran and Astana."

He also expressed regret over the decreased volume of goods exchanges between the two countries in recent years, and said, "The statistical figures of the current year are promising (in this regard) and this trend should continue."

Noting that he has discussed issues related to oil, gas and agricultural cooperation between the two countries and other fundamental issues in the meeting with President Rouhani, he said that the joint cooperation commissions of both states will be ordered to pursue the implementation of agreements.

Earlier today Nazarbayev proposed during a meeting with President Rouhani establishment of Iran-Kazakhstan Trade House to further expand economic relations between the two countries, and said, "I have always attached importance to the relations with Iran and seek growing success for your country."

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed during the meeting between Nazarbayev and Rouhani on Tuesday.

The MoU will comprise expansion of industrial, trade and mining interactions alongside other economic activities in the oil, petrochemical and agricultural sectors.

In recent years, Iran has striven to expand its ties and cooperation with the regional states, specially those in the Central Asia.

In August, Nazarbayev underlined that expansion of all-out ties with Iran stands atop his administration's agenda.

By Fars News Agency

 

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