Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28
By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend:
French President Francois Hollande has officially welcomed his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani at Elysee Palace in Paris.
Iran and France are set to sign 20 business deals on the sidelines of the meeting, including a deal on purchase of Airbus aircraft.
Earlier at a meeting with French business leaders on Jan. 28, President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran is open for investment, adding that his Paris visit was aimed at reviving business ties.
One week after the removal of international nuclear related-sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Rouhani first arrived in Italy for the first leg of his European tour on Jan. 25, which wrapped up Jan. 27 by signing of a raft of deals.
Rouhani said at the start of his visit to France that the Islamic Republic is ready to welcome foreign investors adding there are no more obstacles to investment in Iran.
The pragmatic president's visit came just a week after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA/ nuclear deal) that put an end to economic sanctions against Tehran.
In a joint statement on Jan. 16, the EU's High Representative Federica Mogherini and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the implementation of the JCPOA and the removal of economic sanctions on Iran.
According to the statement, EU has confirmed that legal framework, providing for lifting of its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions, is effective.
The Iranian president led a 120-member delegation including ministers and businessmen during the five-day tour to Rome and Paris.
Earlier on Jan. 23, Iran and China signed 17 agreements including energy and boosting trade ties to $600 billion following the removal of sanctions.