Iran's New Govt Keen To Improve Ties With Pakistan: Rahimpour

Islamabad, Nov 20, IRNA -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs, Ibrahim Rahimpour, said on Tuesday that Iran’s new Government under President Hassan Rouhani is keen to improve relations with the countries of the region. Rahimpour was talking to the Adviser to the Pakistani Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz at the Foreign Ministry. Rahimpour, who is presently on an official visit to Pakistan, said that Pakistan figured high on the foreign policy of Iran and Iran was keen to expand bilateral relations with Pakistan in different fields. During the meeting, the Adviser and the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with the friendly and cordial relations between the two brotherly countries, the Foreign Ministry said. However, the need to increase high level contacts was underscored especially in the context of expanding bilateral economic and trade relations. Both sides agreed to hold the next session of the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting at an early date to review the entire range of bilateral economic relations, a Foreign Ministry statement said. Both sides also agreed to work together within the parameters of the existing mechanisms for discussing security related issues. The Adviser told the visiting Iranian dignitary that he looked forward to meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister during the upcoming ECO Council of Ministers meeting in Tehran. Rahimpour arrived in Pakistan on Monday for talks on bilateral and regional matters with Pakistani officials./end