ID :
108795
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 23:16
Auther :

Iran eager to boost economic, cultural ties with Japan

TOKYO, Feb. 26 Kyodo -
Visiting Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani expressed hope Friday that
his country will be able to boost economic and cultural ties with Japan, saying
that Japanese companies can tap into investment opportunities in new areas such
as renewable energy, railway systems and film production.
Larijani told a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo that in
addition to the traditional crude oil and natural gas markets, the Middle
Eastern country wants to attract foreign investment for wind and solar energy,
infrastructure construction and refining.
He said Iran can also offer farm products and herbs for export to Japan and
that the two countries can deepen exchanges in the areas of tourism and
academia. Annual bilateral trade tops $11 billion, he added.
The speaker said Tokyo and Tehran are influential powers in East and West Asia,
respectively, and that the two countries should cooperate in supporting the
reconstruction of Afghanistan and countering narcotics.
Larijani lauded Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for proposing to
establish an ''East Asian community,'' saying that if realized, it would have a
''positive impact on the trend of realizing a multi-polar world.''
==Kyodo

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