Tehran, Hanoi discuss bilateral, regional and int'l issues

  
 

 

  
 

 
     
          Tehran, Oct 21, IRNA -- Visiting Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong, in a meeting with President Mohammad Khatami here Sunday, stressed the need to strengthen mutual relations in all fields.
        During the meeting, Khatami underlined the need to enhance bilateral as well as regional and international cooperation with particular reference to present circumstances, and called for full utilization of the two countries' potentials in the commercial, economic and scientific fields within the framework of their joint economic commission.
        "Vietnam and Iran, as two member countries of the Association of South-East Nations (ASEAN) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), respectively, have the capability of enhancing regional economic and commercial cooperation, particularly between their private sectors," Khatami said.
        He expressed the hope that bilateral ties between Tehran and Hanoi would receive a boost with the signing of new documents for cooperation as well as implementation of those already concluded between the two sides with the firm determination of their leadership.
        The Iranian president recalled the aggression committed by alien forces against Vietnam in past decades and the ultimate victory of the the nation as "one of the most important" events of the 20th century.
        Noting the close stances of Tehran and Hanoi on various issues of international concern, including those that have been raised before the world body (UN), he said: "Cooperation between the two countries must proceed in greater strides in order to meet the increasingly urgent need for peace, security and a just world and in order to thwart the threats to use force and unilateralism."
        "The Islamic Republic of Iran and Vietnam are two countries which have been themselves victims of war and terrorism and should stress peace and dialogue as opposed to war and violence as means of settling disputes" Khatami added.
        "Iran condemns the Zionist regime's crimes against the oppressed Palestinian people and believes that durable peace in the Middle East can be resolved only through restoration in full of the rights of Palestinians," he said.
        President Luong, for his part, highlighted the significant role the Islamic Republic plays in affairs of the region on account of its special geographical position, and expressed appreciation for its support to the Vietnamese government and nation. 
        He also highlighted Iran's status in the Islamic world and, in particular, in international political and economic organizations such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and called for expansion of Tehran-Hanoi ties in the fields of commerce, technology, agriculture and information.
        He pointed to the marked increase in the economic, social and international standing of Vietnam in recent decades and its "promising" pace of development and progress, and asked for Iran's assistance in developing his country's oil, gas, steel and construction sectors.
        Luong said US unilateral policies are aimed at promoting a unipolar world which tend to work against the independent and sovereign interests of other states.
        He urged a close follow-up of current developments and the adoption of common stances in order to safeguard national interests and thwart dictatorial tendencies of big powers.
        He also hailed the "dialogue among civilizations" proposal of the Islamic Republic as a commendable way of resolving disputes and achieving peace and security in this troubled world.
        Iranian Minister of Agriculture Jihad and the Iranian chairman of the Iran-Vietnam Joint Economic Commission, Mahmoud Hojjati, Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari and the Vietnamese ministers of public health, agriculture and rural development and trade along with a number of high-ranking officials of the two countries were also in the meeting.
        It may be mentioned here that Tehran and Hanoi are two of the world's developing countries that have witnessed remarkable progress in their economic, trade and cultural fields in recent years. Mutual visits by their respective officials have increased in various levels since 1995.
        President Tran Duc Luong, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived here Sunday afternoon and was received by Iranian Minister of Agriculture Jihad Mahmoud Hojjati at Mehrabad International Airport.
        Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Mohsen Aminzadeh visited Hanoi last month.
Talks between officials of the two developing countries have stressed expansion of relations considering their tremendous potentials for further development.
        On the sidelines of Tran's visit, the two countries will hold the third session of their joint economic commission.

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