Indian Official in Tehran to Strengthen Ties
IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK
TEHRAN- India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar yesterday arrived in Tehran and was welcomed by his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
- Jaishankar, in his two-day visit, is to take part in the 19th Iran-India Joint Commission meeting.
Zarif and Jaishankar yesterday discussed the latest developments in bilateral relations.
Both sides were supposed to sign documents after the meeting.
During the meeting, both sides discussed regional and international issues.
Iran-India relations date back to thousands of years ago, two Asian countries that have set sights on developing their relationships further at a time when Iran is looking east rather than west.
Dr Jaishankar is expected to call on President Hassan Rouhani today.
Meanwhile on the sidelines of the meeting, Iran’s Ambassador in India told IRNA that Mr. Jaishankar is in Iran to discuss the political and economic issues with Iranian officials.
On the objectives of the ongoing visit of the Indian minister to Iran, Ali Chegini noted that Jaishankar is in Tehran to participate in the 19th economic joint commission meeting.
He said that the meetings are expected to explore different avenues to further expand Tehran’s relations with New Delhi, including topics related to trade of energy, non-oil goods, investment, banking, regional cooperation, and fighting terrorism.
Elaborating on the significance of the trip, Chegini said that the Indian foreign minister is important both politically and economically.
Saying that last year, for the first time in history, the trade of the two countries exceeded 17 billion dollars, he added that the trade can fast grow to reach 30 to 40 billion dollars, which is in line with Iran’s policy of glance toward the East – countries like India and China.
He also said that the two economies are complementary to each other meaning that what Iran produces and exports are among the needs of India, and whatever Iran needs is produced and exported by India.
He said that India is a progressing country and has had great advances in economy. Iran and India have a lot of capacities to expand in economic relations.
Iran and India export fruits and dried nuts to each other. Stones, mineral goods, tar, and Iran’s finalized goods have a good market in India, he said.
And on the other hand, many of the needs of Iran and be provided by India through the mechanism that exist, including barter, energy, oil sale, or even barter of services.
Iran is a good market for India, and India is a good market for Iran, the ambassador noted.
