Speaking in the meeting with Khorasan Razavi Chamber of Commerce officials in the city of Mashhad, Mr. Kahiluoto pointed to the good relations between the two countries and blamed sanctions for decline in the economic ties of the two countries but expressed hope soon an opening would happen in this relation.

He announced readiness of Embassy of Finland in Tehran for preparing the ground for restoration and keeping the ties and interactions for better days especially in the economic issues.

He then elaborated economic capacities of his country and said that Finland is an EU member located in the north of the European continent and it is considered as one of the leading countries in the fields of sustainable energies, protection of resources and environment, and development of the knowledge-based infrastructures and technology. He added that Finland in the issues like creativity and renovation, digital infrastructures, industrial and logistic equipment and it has good capabilities.

Kahiluoto then said that Finland can share its experience with Iran and especially with Mashhad in the field of water resources management. He then pointed to the issue of reconstruction of Afghanistan and said that this issue will definitely be the main issue in the world and Khorasan Razavi Province which has a good strategic geographical position can play constructive role in this regard.

He then pointed to the growing number of young work force in the world and announced readiness of Finland to have good cooperation with Iran and especially Razavi Khorasan Province in terms of exchange and training specialized forces.

He reiterated that there are good capacities for more cooperation between Iran and Finland in this field.

Meanwhile in the meeting, Head of Iran-Finland Joint Chamber of Commerce Mr. Gholam-Hossein Jamili, for his part, said that the meeting was aimed at for acquaintance for capacities of the two countries for joint cooperation, adding that the current trade volume between the two countries is not acceptable but the current trade balance has good potentials especially the Finnish tend to buy Iranian products.

He added that Finland has progressed significantly in science and technology and especially in the food industries and hi-techs and expressed hope the economic cooperation between the two countries would broaden. He hailed the positive efforts of the Finnish ambassador in painting true picture of Iran and its economic capacities and expressed hope such visits and meetings can lead to more acquaintance and interactions between the two states.

Jamili announced readiness of the private sector of Iran and especially Khorasan Razavi for interactions with Finland.

Later Mohammad Reza Tavakolizadeh, a member of presiding board of Khorasan Razavi Chamber of Commerce, highlighted properties of Khorasan Razavi and called the province a special one in the country, adding that almost 90% of industries in this area belong to the private sector and the private sector plays a very valuable and colorful role in the field of industry. He noted steel, concrete and machinery are major active heavy industries in this province and expressed hope cooperation between this province and Finland in different fields would happen.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto on Monday.

Answering a question about the continuation of the eighth round of talks in Vienna on Tuesday, he said, “We focused on the latest texts which were reached after Iran’s negotiations with the P4+1. In reviewing the latest texts of the Vienna talks, parts of our demands in the field of lifting sanctions have not yet been met.”

“In the coming days, Mr. Ali Bagheri and senior negotiating experts in Vienna will focus on the document to be agreed upon, in which the various parties will show their return to the commitments under the JCPOA,” he added.

He also expressed hope that the final agreement will be reached at this stage, saying, “Whether we can reach a good agreement in the coming days depends on the initiative and the behavior of the three European countries and the United States.”

Amir-Abdollahian also said that the Iranian team will continue its efforts to reach a good agreement with good faith and seriousness.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he also pointed to his meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, saying that the two sides discussed various areas of bilateral relations. “Iran-Finland relations are stable and on the right track.”

The Finnish Foreign Minister, for his part, called Iran’s role in the region important. “Iran was one of the first countries to recognize Finland’s independence 90 years ago and is one of the most important countries for Finland and one of the most important countries in the region.”

He also expressed hope for the revival of the JCPOA, saying, “Finland supports the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and we know that Iran has good cooperation with the IAEA. The results of the Vienna talks can be an opportunity to increase exchanges between the two countries.”

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The top diplomat’s visit comes as the first of his three-nation tour, as he will depart Finland for Norway and Sweden afterwards to “discuss ways to ease tensions in the West Asia region.”

Upon arrival in Helsinki, Zarif referred to an initiative for dialogue in the Persian Gulf set forth in the past by Finland, saying it is almost similar to the plan Iran has earlier raised.

“A few years ago I came here, Helsinki, and raised the initiative of a regional dialogue forum in the Persian Gulf, and the Finnish have always been interested in these issues,” he noted.

Zarif raised the idea of a Regional Dialogue Forum for the first time in an op-ed article in The New York Times on April 20, 2015, where he argued that “the establishment of a collective forum for dialogue in the Persian Gulf region, to facilitate engagement, is long overdue.”

He has repeated the calls for the formation of the forum in an attempt to restore peace and stability to the region.

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