Iran determined to expand ties with neighbors: Speaker
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s current administration and parliament are pursuing the development of cooperation with neighboring states.
The speaker said on Wednesday that one of the main achievements of his visit to Uzbekistan should be expansion of cultural and economic relationships.
Increasing trade exchange to two billion dollars is one of the objectives, which should be followed up in the visit to Uzbekistan.
Qalibaf and his delegation departed for Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Iranian parliamentary delegation took part in a meeting at Uzbekistan’s Parliament and held talks with Nurdinjon Ismoilov, the speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.
The top Iranian legislator expressed gratitude to the Uzbek officials for their hospitality, hoping that the trip would be an initiation of a great improvement in the development of collaborations between the two nations and governments.
Iran's parliament was formed more than 100 years ago and the Iranians have found out wholeheartedly that parliaments can play key roles in expansion of ties between governments and nations, he said, adding that they can consolidate good relationships.
The chairman of the legislative branch in the Islamic System went on to say that the main strategy of the 11th parliament and the 13th administration is development of all-out cooperation with neighboring states in particular with Muslim countries and that the geostrategic and geopolitical circumstances of today’s world have forced the regional states to enhance and boost mutual interactions.
One of the instances in the today’s world, which dominated the global affairs, is the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Qalibaf said, noting that in addition to the fact that neighboring states should deepen strategic relationships, such a global condition pushes neighbors to improve the level of cooperation.
Iran gives significance to the role of Uzbekistan in the current situation, because the Central Asian country is unique in terms of historical and cultural backgrounds, so Uzbekistan-Iran collaborations can pave the ground for creating a big opportunity in transit of commodities particularly regarding Uzbekistan’s access to international waters namely the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.
Pointing to economic and trade ties between Tashkent and Tehran, the Iranian parliament speaker noted that Iran plans to increase trade with neighboring states to 200 billion dollars.
Qalibaf further mentioned that during his visit to Uzbekistan, he would hold talks with the heads of the Central Asian country’s two parliaments and a number of the Iranian businesspersons working in Uzbekistan as well.