Minister Highlights Tehran-Kabul Economic Cooperation for Regional Security
2020-November-9
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said that promotion of economic cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan plays an important role in achieving sustainable development and regional security.
Ardakanian made the remarks during a meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Affairs Deborah Lyons in Tehran.
He highlighted Iran’s rich professional and economic capacities to contribute to the scientific, industrial and economic improvement of Afghanistan.
The Chairman of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission of Iran and Afghanistan stressed the need to increase cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, customs, economy and other fields related to this commission.
Lyons, for her part, referred to the most important areas of economic cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan and the role of the United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in facilitating this cooperation.
She also voiced the readiness of UNAMA for promoting mutual cooperation.
In relevant remarks, Senior Advisor to the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ali Akbar Velayati said that the Iranian and Afghan nations enjoy numerous civilization, historic and cultural commonalities, reiterating Iran’s support for and standing by the Afghan nation.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasized the need for peace in Afghanistan and has provided the necessary support and is prepared to cooperate in establishing peace and stability in the country,” Velayati said in a meeting on Sunday with Deborah Lyons.
“The great nation of Afghanistan is able and brave enough to determine its own fate in the best manner,” he said, adding that there are close relations between Iran and Afghanistan.
Lyons, for her part, called on removing obstacles and trying to advance the intra-Afghan peace talks, stressing Iran’s very important and strategic role in this process.
"Iran as a key neighbor of Afghanistan has a very important position in the region and we are very hopeful for Iran's help in the peace process of the Afghan parties," she added.