Iran Urges Conclusion of Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The foreign minister of Iran expressed hope for the finalization of a free trade agreement with Pakistan, which he said would greatly enhance the trade exchanges between the two neighbors.
In a meeting on the sidelines of the 26th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers in Tashkent on Tuesday, Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held consultations on various issues of mutual interest in the bilateral, regional and international spheres.
The top Iranian diplomat once again expressed sympathy with Pakistan over the recent flood in the country and reiterated that Iran always feels committed to supporting and helping the brotherly nation of Pakistan in difficult times.
He also touched on the progress made in the implementation and completion of the agreements between the two countries, including in the fields of electricity and natural gas, and expressed hope that the agreement on free trade between the two countries would be signed as soon as possible and mutual trade will increase.
The two top diplomats also described the role of border markets in upgrading the level of mutual trade and improving lasting security and the livelihoods of the locals in the border areas as helpful, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
Amirabdollahian then described the Economic Cooperation Organization as a suitable ground for the expansion of regional cooperation and called for closer cooperation, especially in the field of transit, including through the ECO freight train and a road link under international conventions.
For his part, the Pakistani foreign minister hailed the deep bonds between the Iranian and Pakistani nations.
He underlined the significance of Iran in the foreign policy of his country and noted that cooperation between the two countries is in line with the interests of both nations as well as the South Asia region.
The two sides also discussed the developments in Afghanistan and described the necessity of the formation of an inclusive government in the country as a basis for the recognition of the government in Afghanistan.
They also highlighted the significance of maintaining the existing consensus among the neighbors of Afghanistan and other players in this regard.
