Iranian, S. Korean Speakers Discuss Expansion of Parliamentary Ties


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and his South Korean counterpart Kang Chang-hee in a meeting in the Iranian capital on Sunday emphasized the need for the enhancement of parliamentary relations between the two countries.

The South Korean parliament speaker, heading a 21-member parliamentary delegation, arrived in Tehran earlier in the day, and held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart.

The two speakers discussed a range of bilateral, regional and international issues, while both underscored the need for stronger parliamentary relations between the two Asian countries.

The visiting South Korean delegation is scheduled to have a 3-day stay in Tehran.

Earlier on Thursday, Director General of the Iranian Parliament’s Protocol Office Mohammad Yasrebi had told the Tasnim News Agency that Kang and his peers are also planned to meet Chairman of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in their visit to the country.

Yasrebi had stated that the delegation includes five members of the South Korean parliament and the rest are staff members of the Korean parliament.

This is the fifth parliamentary delegation from the East Asian country to visit Tehran since the start of the current Iranian year (started on March 21, 2013).

The Korean news website, The Chosun Ilbo, reported recently that South Korean companies are preparing to return to Iran’s market as the US and the European Union (EU) have started easing sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

According to the website, South Korea was Iran’s fourth trade partner until 2012, when the US ratcheted up sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear energy program.