TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iran�s First Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi and visiting Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Trade Diego Aulestia Valencia explored avenues for closer relations between the Islamic Republic and the Latin American country.








During the Tuesday meeting in Tehran, Sarmadi praised the age-old relations between Tehran and Quito, saying that the ties have always been friendly and based on common grounds.

�However, in our opinion, we should enhance the level and quality of the relations to a desired level,� the deputy foreign minister added.

He further highlighted the role that economic factors can play in boosting bilateral ties in various areas, saying that the establishment of brokerage relationship between the two sides� banks will pave the ground for closer cooperation.

The Ecuadorian minister, for his part, expressed his country�s willingness to promote economic relations with Iran, saying he believes that trade transactions and joint investments should increase.

In an earlier meeting with Aulestia Valencia on Tuesday, Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh expressed the country�s willingness to promote its trade ties with Latin America, Ecuador in particular.

�The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been interested in expanding its political and economic ties with Latin American countries,� Nematzadeh said at the meeting.

He urged planning for development of economic cooperation between Iran and Ecuador.

�There are very good capacities for promotion of mutual cooperation between the two countries,� he said, hoping that the Ecuadorian delegation�s visit to Tehran would help to enhance the interactions.

By Tasnim News Agency