Tehran, Iran, January 31
By Mehdi Sepahvand –- Trend:
The foreign ministers of Iran and France in a joint press conference in Tehran expressed happiness that trade volume between the two countries has tripled over the past year.
Iran’s Mohammad Javad Zarif said during the press conference that the two sides had convened their first economic commission meeting, signing several agreement documents, Trend’s correspondent reported from the event.
According to Zarif, the agreements included the areas of economy, science and technology, environment, aviation, rail transport, and money laundering.
The Iranian foreign minister also pointed out that the first car to be jointly made by Iran and France will hit the market in about one month.
Jean-Marc Ayrault, for his part, said French banks are fully prepared to support economic activity of French companies in Iran.
Expressing happiness over the 2015 opening of France’s trade office in Tehran, the French foreign minister said the office is helping various Iranian and French companies to carry out business.
“It is important for us to support cooperation projects with Iran,” he said, adding, “After the [nuclear] deal we turned to a new stage. The agreement should be respected by France and the other parties that signed it.”
Ayrault further pointed out that Iranian and French universities have signed 17 MoUs, adding that France is after stronger academic ties with Iran.
“Long-lasting cooperation with Iran on railroads, ports, aviation, and renewable energy is top on agenda for France, therefore we will pursue the agreements until there are put into practice.”
France plans to double the number of visas it issues to Iranians, Ayrault also said, adding that “France wants to be able to allow a larger number of Iranians wishing to travel to France to ask for a visa in improved conditions.”
Heading a high-ranking 60-member political-economic delegation, Ayrault arrived in Tehran Jan. 30.