Foreign Minister, Ali-Akbar Salehi, and Kazakhstan Minister of Transport and Communications, Askar Zhumagaliyev, on Wednesday called for enhancing level of trade to five billion dollars.
Salehi, speaking to Zhumagaliyev, said after Kazakhstan independence over the past two decades, we have been witnessing development of bilateral relations in various dimensions and the two countries’ presidents have determined to upgrade bilateral ties, trade and economic cooperation. He said the current level of trade and commerce lag behind with present capacities and that Tehran-Astana Joint Economic Commission should uphold the agenda to boost economic cooperation.
Emphasizing multilateral transit cooperation in the region, including cargo transit, Salehi said that Iranian and Kazakh businessmen should be further active than before in transit of cargo.
He hoped that Kazakhstan would provide more facilities for Iranian companies that are ready to offer different kinds of services in Kazakhstan.
He also stressed further activation of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
Zhumagaliyev said for his part that his country gives priority to expansion of relations with Iran.
He said Kazakhstan is eager to raise volume of mutual cooperation in transportation and cargo transit.
Salehi, who is in Kazakhstan for an official visit, conferred with senior Kazakh officials on issues of mutual interests and Iran's peaceful nuclear activities.
Speaking to reporters after his meetings with the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev, Salehi announced that Kazakh officials voiced their preparedness to host Iranian nuclear talks with Group 5+1.
Salehi also appreciated Kazakh positive stance regarding Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) have held several rounds of talks.
Represenatives of Iran and the six countries had two days of hectic negotiations in Moscow on June 18-19.
At the end of the talks, Iran's top negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced that they will hold a meeting after talks between their deputies.
Baqeri and deputy head of EU's foreign policy affairs Helga Schmid will meet after an expert meeting in Istanbul on July 3.
After a meeting between Baqeri and Schmid, Jalili and Ashton will meet again.
IRNA
Norwegian
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