Iran and Belarus have called for practical steps to enhance trade ties saying that it will help strengthen relations between the two countries.
“Tehran is prepared to take the measures necessary to help boost import and export and services between Iran and Belarus,” Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said in a meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, president of the eastern European country, in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Friday, IRNA reported.
Lukashenko said his country is keen to expand economic ties with the Islamic Republic, particularly in the field of agriculture. The two sides discussed importing products such as red meat, wheat, paper, wood pulp and heavy equipment to Iran and export of oil, petrochemicals, medicine, dried and fresh fruit and vegetables to Belarus.
Members of the joint parliamentary friendship group held a meeting on the same day, in which they explored new avenues for broadening two-way relations.
Their talks centered on utilizing the potential of the friendship group to widen cooperation on economic, political and security issues, sharing experience in the legislative field and facilitating travel.
Talks in Russia
Before his trip to Belarus, the parliament speaker visited Russia where he discussed issues of common interest and concern.
In a meeting with lawmakers in the southwestern Russian city of Volgograd on Thursday, Larijani said Tehran supports the strengthening of cooperation with Moscow, particularly in the area of railroad transport.
"The Majlis will certainly pay extra attention to the field of transportation, especially the rail network, as well as transport companies in both countries," he told Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma.
Volodin said the current level of bilateral relations is not satisfactory, adding, "Joint parliamentary meetings should continue to help boost cooperation."
He added that there is great potential for further collaboration in the fields of energy, agriculture, rail transportation and banking.
Volume of Trade
The senior Russian lawmaker said the volume of trade between Iran and Russia has increased by 30% year-on-year. Iran traded 645,158 tons of non-oil commodities worth $546 million with Russia during the first four months of the current fiscal year (March 21-July 22), according to data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration. This marks a 33.93% and 130.35% growth in volume and value respectively compared to last year. Iran's exports to Russia stood at 171,496 tons worth $93.5 million, up 29.39% and 36.84% in volume and value respectively.
