Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24
By Rahim Zamanov - Trend:
A Belgian trade delegation will visit Tehran in April, head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Gholamhossein Shafei, said on Feb. 24, Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported.
"Given the strategic location of Belgium, it's important for Iran to have good economic relations with the country," Shafei said.
"The two country's trade turnover currently stands at $80 million," he said, adding that the figure is not acceptable.
"Many countries are competing to win Iran's market, so any country that acts faster will win a greater share," he added.
Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders is currently in Tehran.
He has held several meeting with high-ranking Iranian officials including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani.
During his meeting with Reynder, Larijani expressed support for the enhancement of bilateral relations withBelgium, particularly in the domain of parliamentary cooperation, Press TV reported.
Larijani hailed Tehran-Brussels ties as "positive", emphasizing that "Iran's Majlis supports the expansion of political and economic cooperation with Belgium, especially in the parliamentary sphere."
The top Belgian diplomat, for his part, said his country welcomes the expansion of Tehran-Brussels ties in different areas, underlining the significance of parliamentary ties between the two countries.
Reynders also praised the Islamic Republic's efforts in fighting drug trafficking and said Tehran-Brussels relations are highly significant in this arena.
During his trip to Tehran, the Belgian foreign minister also exchanged views on issues of bilateral significance with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as well as his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Edited by C.N.