Indonesian official calls for strengthening economic ties with Iran

Isfahan, Dec 7, IRNA – Speaker of Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Zulkifli Hasan on Wednesday called for strengthening economic, commercial and cultural cooperation with Iran. He made the remarks in a luncheon hosted by Isfahan Governor General Rasoul Zargarpour in honor of Indonesian delegation. Zulkifli Hasan said that there are different fields for Indonesian economic cooperation with Iran and that the two states have a great deal of advantages to develop trade ties. He said that Indonesia needs oil and Iran can be a credible supplier of oil to Indonesia. Hasan said that cultural affinities serve as common ground for developing relations and that Islam invited the Muslims for unity, so the two governments should work for bolstering cooperation. The Indonesian official and accompanying delegation arrived in Isfahan on Tuesday evening to pay a visit to historical and cultural sites of the ancient Iranian city. Zulkifli Hasan met with President Hassan Rouhani, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and senior religious leader Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi on Tuesday. Indonesia with 238 million population is the fourth most populous country in the world. 1378/IRNA