Zarif, Russian Federation Council chief review international issues

Tehran, Nov 14, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with Russian Federation Council Chief Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko on international issues Monday afternoon. The two sides discussed international issues including the US presidential election, development of bilateral ties, construction of thermal and nuclear power plants, the latest developments in Syria and Iraq and Iran's membership to the Eurasia Economic Assembly and Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Russian senior official said that Iran-Russia relations are strategic, calling for upgrading relations. Zarif and Matviyenko exchanged views on holding Tehran-Moscow Joint Economic Commission meeting, cooperation on compiling the Caspian Sea Legal Convention, ways to implement the agreements already signed by presidents of the two countries, cooperation on energy, the South-North corridor, construction of thermal and nuclear power plants and supplying electric trains to Iran by the Russian companies. Ways to increase bilateral cooperation in cultural affairs, development of tourism and facilitating the procedure to issue visas and moving forward to cancellation of visa between the two countries, promoting academic cooperation, dialogue between Islam and Christianity, fight against terrorism, the latest developments in Syria and Iraq in campaign against Daesh terrorists, the US presidential election and ways to develop inter-provincial cooperation were the subjects for consultations by the two sides. 1378/IRNA