President Hassan Rouhani says Iran is keen to enhance relations with ASEAN member states.
In a meeting with the new Laotian accredited ambassador to Tehran on Tuesday, the president said, "Expansion of political and economic relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states is on Iran's foreign policy agenda," IRNA reported.
Receiving the new ambassador's credentials, he expressed hope that the new ambassador's mission would mark promotion of political and economic relations between the two countries.
Rouhani said cooperation within the framework of international organizations, such as the United Nations, contributes to expansion of ties among states, adding, "More interaction between the two states' officials will lead to further expansion of mutual cooperation." The president stressed the need to prepare the ground for more active participation of private sectors in both countries' economic sphere.
He also said, "Laos is among the countries known for its long-lasting campaign against colonialism." The new Laotian ambassador, for his part, said Laos attaches great significance to Iran and the "historical" relations between the two countries, adding, "The Islamic Revolution (of Iran) echoes the battle of the Laotian nation against colonialism."
"We respect Iran for the efforts it made to achieve independence," he added. In addition, the ambassador expressed his country's readiness for expansion of economic relations with Iran.
Latam Relations
In a separate meeting, the president received the credentials of the new Chilean accredited ambassador to Tehran on Tuesday.
Rouhani described the position of Latin American states in addressing international issues as significant and said, "Iran is keen to establish firm and good relations with the countries in the (Latin American) region including Chile," IRNA reported.
He said, "The current conditions in the world require all countries to increase interaction to expand economic cooperation and seek solutions to security issues." The chief executive welcomed the Chile's decision to open an embassy in Tehran and noted, "The two countries are undoubtedly eager to promote bilateral relations in political, economic and scientific areas."
Christian Barros Mellet, for his part, conveyed the Chilean presidents' warm regards to President Rouhani, adding that Chile is firmly resolved to expand bilateral ties with Iran. He concluded that he will spare no effort to help enhance mutual cooperation with Iran during his tenure.
