Iran calls for boosting cooperation with African states

Tehran, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Saturday that Iran's 13th gov't calls for bolstering relations and cooperation with African states, especially Nigeria. Amirabdollahian met and held talks with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zubairu Dada here on Saturday. Expressing pleasure at the development of relations between the two countries, especially in the economic and trade fields, over the past two years, Amirabdollahian said that the current volume of cooperation between Iran and Nigeria is not proportional to the capacities in the two states and it is far from the desired point. Pointing to the determination of Iran's 13th gov't to engage and cooperate with African countries, especially Nigeria, within the framework of the 13th Government's foreign policy, he reiterated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no restrictions on the development of relations with Nigeria. Referring to the Sixth Iran-Nigeria Joint Economic Commission in Tehran, Amirabdollahian highlighted that holding such meetings is considered an important step for the development of mutual relations. Amirabdollahian conveyed President Raisi's invitation to be submitted to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to pay a visit to Tehran. Zubairu Dada, for his part, thanked Iran for the successful holding of the Sixth Iran-Nigeria Joint Economic Commission and added that there are many opportunities for cooperation between Iran and Nigeria. He expressed hope that the implementation of the agreements reached in the Sixth Iran-Nigeria Joint Economic Commission will help to increase the level of trade cooperation between the two states. Expressing Nigeria’s readiness to increase cooperation with Iran, he noted that Nigeria calls for strengthening cooperation with Iran in various fields in the future. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish