PNN – The Minister of Industry, Trade and Mining of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing the need to follow up on the implementation of agreements between Tehran and Islamabad in order to increase trade exchanges, invited the Minister of Commerce of Pakistan for an official visit to Iran.
Syed Muhammad Atabek had an official meeting with Jam Kamal Khan, Minister of Commerce of Pakistan, on Wednesday evening at the end of the 23rd meeting of the heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries in Islamabad.
In this meeting, Mohammad Mohajer, Acting Vice President of Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, and members of the delegation accompanying Minister Sammat were present.
At the end of this meeting, in an exclusive interview, Atabek stated that considering the historical and cultural commonalities of the two countries, we should take advantage of the strong potentials to expand trade exchanges between Iran and Pakistan.
He added: In the meeting with the Pakistani counterpart, I emphasized the need to follow up on the implementation of the agreements between Tehran and Islamabad in the fields of commerce, trade and economic cooperation, and the parties agreed to examine the issues and challenges facing bilateral trade.
He stated that the current amount of trade exchanges is not acceptable from the point of view of both Iran and Pakistan, and considering the strong relations and common links of the two countries, we are confident that we will be able to increase the volume of trade exchanges several times.
The Minister of Commerce of Pakistan, in a conversation with reporter, recalled the visit of martyred Ayatollah Seyed Ibrahim Raisi, the late president of Iran, to Islamabad earlier this year and said: We are happy with the formation of the new government in Iran and look forward to the practical steps of the two countries for new cooperation opportunities.
Announcing that an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran is on his agenda, Jam Kamal Khan added: I had good talks with my Iranian counterpart and reached constructive agreements, and we believe that there is much work left that both countries are determined to carry forward.
Referring to the border relations between Iran and Pakistan and the exchange of delegations between Sistan and Baluchistan province and Baluchistan state, he emphasized: All initiatives, including our mutual trips to Iran and Pakistan, are on the agenda so that we can pave the way for interactions.
According to this report, the 23rd meeting of the heads of state of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ended today with the signing of a joint document and the issuance of a joint statement by the member countries in Islamabad.
At the Islamabad meeting, the chairmanship of the Council of Prime Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (heads of member states) was handed over to the Russian Federation.