Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Niamey on Thursday and was received by his Nigerien counterpart, Ibrahim Yacouba.
The trip featured meetings between the Iranian top diplomat and Nigers President Mahamadou Issoufou, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini and Yacouba himself.
During the high-level talks, senior Iranian and Nigerien officials laid emphasis on the expansion of bilateral political, economic, and trade ties and discussed regional and international issues, especially fighting terrorism.
The visit also witnessed a meeting of Iran-Niger Trade Conference. Speaking at the meeting, Zarif said, We are prepared to cooperate in the areas of trade, commerce, investment and transfer of technology.
The flagship of Irans science and technology sector has attended the meeting, and will waste no time in cooperating with Niger in the area of transferring technology, he noted.
Zarif further hailed the progress in Tehran-Niamey cooperation in the health sector, stressing that the two sides could work together in the areas of technology and engineering as well as auto industry in the future, too.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) and his Nigerien counterpart, Ibrahim Yacouba, in the African countrys capital Niamey, October 26, 2017 (Photo by IRNA)[/caption]The Nigerian foreign minister, who was also present at the meeting, said, for his part, that his country welcomed expanded operation there by Iranian enterprises.
Iran and Niger, he said, have been enjoying diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, adding that the presence of a high-ranking economic delegation in the African country indicated a promotion of bilateral ties.
Zarif left the capital Tehran for South Africa at the head of a ranking political and economic delegation on Saturday night.
He travelled to Pretoria, the countrys administrative capital, at the invitation of his South African counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
The visit featured the 13th gathering of the countries Joint Commission, as well as meetings with the host nations president, Jacob Zuma, and Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba. The event addressed the implementation of standing agreements between the two sides.
Zarifs next stop was Uganda, where he likewise addressed expanding of bilateral political and economic relations.
The Uganda stay witnessed inauguration of a 50-bed hospital financed by the Islamic Republic.
