Close Cooperation Stressed with Saudi Arabia
November 30, 2003
Iran Daily
IranMania
TEHRAN -- The head of State Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani stressed the continuation of consultations and close cooperation with Saudi Arabia, IRNA reported.
In a meeting with the newly-appointed Saudi Ambassador to Tehran Nasir Ibn Al-Barik, Rafsanjani discussed bilateral relations, regional issues and the situation in the Muslim world.
"Iran and Saudi Arabia, as important founder-members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), should hold consultations as well as strategic and closer cooperation to settle regional issues and those of the Islamic world," he said.
Pointing to the two countries' potentials and the need to use bilateral capacities, the SEC chief said Iran and Saudi Arabia face no obstacles to political, economic, cultural and security cooperation.
Rafsanjani called for developing linking routes between the Saudi province of Sharqia and Imam Khomeini Port as the ground for strengthening trade and economic ties and facilitating visits by Iranian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Al-Barik, for his part, outlined economic, political and security situation in Saudi Arabia and called for expansion of relations in all fields.
He pointed to cultural, religious and historical commonalities between the Iranian and Saudi nations, and stressed exchange of intellectuals and students to promote scientific and cultural cooperation.
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