India attaches importance to ties with Iran, says PM Modi

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December 29, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India attaches high importance to its relations with Iran and expressed keenness to further strengthen ties with it, including in the areas of trade, investment, oil and gas, connectivity and port development.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Source: PTI)

December 29, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India attaches high importance to its relations with Iran and expressed keenness to further strengthen ties with it, including in the areas of trade, investment, oil and gas, connectivity and port development.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Source: PTI)

He conveyed the views to Iran's Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia, who called on him. Tayyebnia is visiting India for the bilateral Joint Commission meeting co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister recalled his meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in Ufa, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, in July. "The Prime Minister expressed readiness on the part of India to further strengthen bilateral relations, including in the areas of trade, investment, oil and gas, connectivity, port development," an MEA statement said. India is already engaged in the construction of Chahbahar port in Iran.

In the Joint Commission meeting, Swaraj said that India considers Iran as an important partner and expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral interaction in diverse area.

"She underlined the efforts underway to enhance bilateral economic cooperation in energy, infrastructure, including shipping, ports and railways, and trade and commerce. She stressed that connectivity afforded by Indian participation in Chahbahar Port will facilitate linking Afghanistan and Central Asia with India. The Iranian side suggested participation of India's public and private sectors in development of Chahbahar Port and Chahbahar Free Trade Zone (FTZ),” a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.


Courtesy: PTI