News / Politics

President Raeisi: Iran bent on expanding all-out ties with Central Asia

Sunday, 20 February 2022 6:02 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 20 February 2022 7:38 PM ]

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi (R) and Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov (L) meet in Tehran, on February 20, 2022. (Photo by president.ir)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says the Islamic Republic welcomes the expansion of all-out relations with Central Asian countries, particularly Uzbekistan, and sets no limitation in this regard.

In a meeting with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov in Tehran on Sunday, Raeisi said the two countries have historical and cultural commonalities and great capacities to improve bilateral relations in various economic sectors, including agriculture, industry, transportation, energy, and tourism.

“Today, the political will of the two countries’ presidents is based on an all-out development and deepening of relations, and we are determined to take major steps towards the prosperity and development of the two countries by activating all capacities," the Iranian president stated.

He emphasized that the common capacities of Iran and Uzbekistan can secure the interests of the two nations and other nations in the region.

Raeisi also stressed the importance of enhancing cultural relations between Tehran and Tashkent given their deep-rooted historical and cultural commonalities and said it would serve as a solid ground for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in other areas.

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Umurzakov, for his part, said his country set a roadmap to boost relations with Iran immediately after a meeting between the Iranian president and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, in September.

He noted that he is heading a high-ranking economic delegation in his Tehran visit to discuss ways to finalize the roadmap.

The Uzbek deputy prime minister noted that the volume of trade exchanges between the two countries has increased 2.5 times compared to last year.

He said Tashkent is firmly determined to strengthen its relations with Tehran in various fields, including trade and economy, investment, transportation, and transit, in addition to boosting the bilateral cultural ties.

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