(IRNA) - Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here on Thursday called for further expansion of wide-ranging ties with Malaysia, reports Trend.
Mottaki's call was made during the sixth Iran-Malaysia Joint Economic Commission session. The Malaysian delegation which attended the meeting was headed by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.
Commenting on the great potentials of both states for further promoting bilateral ties, Mottaki said the two sides shared identical stances on various international issues.
He called for further strengthening of ties in the banking, investment, industry and mines, fisheries, agriculture, technology, transportation, oil and gas, petrochemical, sports, health, higher education and tourism sectors.
Noting the many cultural and religious commonalties enjoyed by the two countries, Mottaki said their private sectors can do much to raise the level of Tehran-Kuala Lumpur cooperation.
Expressing his satisfaction with their current level of trade, he said bilateral trade exchanges reached USD 730 million in the first half of 2006 showing a rise of 49 percent compared with the previous year's figure.
The Iranian foreign minister expressed hope the two sides' trade volume would reach USD 1.5 billion by 2007.
Iran and Malaysia are both active in various international organizations, he said, adding that Tehran and Kuala Lumpur have identical views on various international issues such as the nuclear and human rights issues.
Albar, for his part, referred to Iran as a major trading partner of Malaysia and the two countries as "strategic partners" in the international arena.
The three-day Iran-Malaysia Joint Economic Commission session started on Tuesday. It ended with a letter of understanding inked by the two sides.