Taghribnews (TNA) - Iran says expansion of economic ties with regional, Asian countries on top of its agenda

Iran says expansion of economic ties with regional, Asian countries on top of its agenda

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has stressed expansion of economic relations with regional states and Asian countries among its top priorities.

"Deepening and expanding economic cooperation with neighbors, the regional countries, and Asian countries is among the priorities of the Iranian government's diplomacy," the top diplomat said in Tehran on Sunday.

Amir-Abdollahian was addressing the 30th anniversary of expansion of the intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in 1992, which saw the body being joined by Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

"Multilateral and regional organizations such as ECO enjoy an important role in [the implementation of] this strategy," he added.

Iran seizes upon whatever opportunity it can to "reinforce convergence" within the organization, the minister noted.

"Fortunately, there is consensus among all of ECO's member states about the organization's active and passive capacities for economic cooperation and convergence," Amir-Abdollahian noted, calling the capacities "commendable, remarkable, and effective."

The Tehran-headquartered ECO was established by the Islamic Republic, Pakistan, and Turkey in 1985.

The main purpose of the organization is to promote economic, technical, and cultural cooperation among the member states.

Amir-Abdollahian noted that the member countries' economies performed synergistically concerning energy resources, skillful workforce, transportation networks, and food security as well as technological and innovative collaboration.

"This, together with common cultural, religious, and civilizational roots," he added, "has led to an increasingly brighter outlook for cooperation" among the organization's constituents.