Armenia seeking to double trade transactions with Iran
Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan said Armenia is seeking to double bilateral trade and financial transactions with Iran, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.
"Armenia attaches great importance to relations with Iran and is after doubling trade transactions and exchanges with the country," he said, adding the volume of Iran-Armenia trade exchanges hit 300 million dollars.
He also expressed the hope that the two sides would reach an agreement on extending time of construction of Meghri Hydroelectric Power Plant and start the initial activities in the two-day joint economic cooperation commission meeting held in Tehran.
"Economic ties are not so considerable comparing to bilateral relations between the two sides. Holding the commission is of great importance for presidents of the two sides, and development of economic ties between the two countries depends on the commission."
He also called for boosting ties between the two countries in environment, sanitation and culture.
Iran and Armenia have taken major strides towards widening and deepening of their relations in recent years, particularly in the economic sector.
Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, heading a high-ranking delegation, visited Iran in October to confer with senior officials of the country on ways to develop all-out ties.
Abrahamyan held meetings with a number of high-ranking Iranian officials, including Foreign Minster Mohammad Javad Zarif, during which they exchanged views on the growing trend of the development of bilateral relations in all areas, specially in economic, trade, infrastructures and tourism fields, and underscored the necessity for removing the existing obstacles.
They also called for continued reciprocal visits by Iranian and Armenian officials to consult and exchange views on the bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest.