Baku, Azerbaijan, April 25
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for expansion of trade ties with South Africa.
Expansion of cooperation in various fields is in the favor of independent countries, Ayatollah Khamenei said at a meeting with the visiting South African President Jacob Zuma in Tehran, the supreme leader's official website reported.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the Islamic Republic's attitude toward South Africa as positive and constructive, calling the relations between Iran and South Africa warm and constructive.
He further spoke about Islamic civilization and said Islamic Revolution seeks "realization of Islamic civilization."
Elaborating on Islamic civilization, he said it does not mean conquest, but intellectual influence of Islam on nations.
Jacob Zuma is on a state visit to Tehran for the first time after the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and six global powers.
Heading a high-ranking political-economic delegation, Zuma arrived in Tehran on April 24 at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart President Hassan Rouhani to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the two countries.
His delegation is expected to sign several documents for cooperation in trade and economic fields with Iranian side.