Iran, Pakistan call for bilateral co-op
By Sara Rajabova
Iran and Pakistan have called for facilitation of economic cooperation between the two governments.
In a meeting between Iranian economy minister Ali Tayyeb-Nia and Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Tehran, the two sides vowed to remove obstacles to expand economic cooperation, Iranian media reported.
Dar arrived in the Iranian capital of Tehran on May 11 along with a delegation headed by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for two days of talks with senior Iranian officials on issues of bilateral and regional significance.
Tayyeb-Nia said Iran and Pakistan should overcome the existing obstacles in the way of Tehran-Islamabad economic relations.
He underlined the determination of Iranian and Pakistani authorities to improve economic ties between the two neighboring nations and outlined the outstanding problems facing the promotion of such relations.
Tayyeb-Nia further stated that his country seeks to bolster links between the private sectors of the two countries, stressing that it is up to the Iranian and Pakistani administrations to set the stage to enhance such ties.
The Pakistani minister, for his part, underscored his country's determination to increase the level of economic cooperation with Iran, expressing hope that the obstacles to Tehran-Islamabad ties would be removed as soon as possible.
On May 11, Iran's First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri and the Pakistani prime minister signed nine memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to promote cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
Under the MoUs, Tehran and Islamabad agreed to set up a joint committee on border issues. They also agreed to boost cooperation in their fight against terrorism, drugs smuggling and money laundering.
Sharif's visit to Tehran is his first since the formation of new governments in the two neighboring countries.