Astana looking forward to opening a new page in relations with Tehran

TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) -- During his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran late on Saturday , Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov said his country is keen to promote regional and international cooperation with Iran in all areas.

He also emphasized the need to utilize the two countries’ potential to consolidate ties.

Salehi and Kazykhanov also discussed economic, cultural, and trade interactions during the meeting.

The Iranian foreign minister said that the annual volume of trade between Tehran and Astana currently stands at $1.2 billion and expressed hope that the two countries would be able to increase the figure to around $5 billion in the near future.

Salehi also commented on the joint project to connect the railways of Kazakhstan and Iran through Turkmenistan, saying that the new rail line is in the final stages of construction.

Kazykhanov said Iran is a good market for Kazakhstan's wheat and can also play a major role in transiting its produce to other regional countries.

The Kazakh foreign minister also held talks with Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and a number of other high-ranking Iranian officials on Sunday.