VP: Iran ready to expand economic, technological cooperation with African, Latam states
Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri expressed Iran’s willingness to expand cooperation in the fields of economy and modern technologies with African and Latin American states, respectively.
He made the remarks in separate meetings with Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Bolivian President Evo Morales on the sidelines of the fourth summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Iran is ready to boost cooperation with Equatorial Guinea in all economic fields, particularly in the oil and gas sectors, said Jahangiri speaking to Mbasogo on Friday.
Jahangiri highlighted the status of African nations in Iran’s foreign policy and added Tehran and Malabo have numerous capacities to promote ties in all areas, Tasnim News Agency reported.
“Iran, as the largest holder of gas reserves [in the world], is ready to share its experience with Equatorial Guinea in the industrial and scientific fields, especially in the energy sector,” he said.
Nguema hailed the advancement of the gas exporting countries’ goals at the fourth summit, adding Iran has played a significant role in achieving the organization’s objectives since its establishment.
In his meeting with Morales, Jahangiri said the Islamic Republic is ready to share its expertise in technological fields, as in nanotechnology, with Bolivia, according to Tasnim News Agency.
He underlined the need for removing the obstacles to banking cooperation between Iran and Bolivia.
Morales voiced his country’s willingness to benefit from Iran’s experiences and progress in new technologies.
Pointing to the favorable results Bolivia has obtained from a number of dairy plants constructed by Iranian companies, Morales said the Latin American country is eager to promote cooperation with Iran in various fields.
The fourth GECF Gas Summit was held on Friday, November 24.
The GECF has 19 main and observer members and its permanent secretariat is located in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Iran, Russia, Qatar, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Peru, the UAE and Oman are main members of GECF.
The Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Iraq and Norway have observer status in GECF whose member states account for 42 percent of global gas production, 70 percent of global gas reserves, 40 percent of natural gas transmission through pipelines and 65 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.