Tehran, Tashkent to boost energy, industry ties

Iran’s deputy minister of industry called for enhanced ties between Tehran and Tashkent in areas such as energy and medicine.

Iran and Uzbekistan need to improve ties in the areas of new industries, food industry, medicine and energy, said Mansour Moazami on Wednesday during a meeting with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Trade Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, IRNA reported.

Referring to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani’s upcoming visit to Uzbekistan, Moazami said the industrial projects agreed between the two sides will be discussed during the visit.

Khodjaev expressed his country’s willingness to increase cooperation with Iran in various fields, saying, “We want to enhance ties with Iran in the field of industry and use its experience in the sectors of new industries, food industry, machinery, medicine and energy.”

In February, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov held talks on issues of mutual interest, including ways to boost relations between the two Asian countries in all spheres.

In the meeting in Tehran on Feb. 11, Zarif and Kamilov also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments.

The top diplomats also discussed signing an inclusive agreement that would boost cooperation in economic and trade areas, particularly in energy fields (oil, gas and petrochemicals), railway transportation, consular services and tourism.

The two sides further held talks on cheaper direct flights between Tehran and Tashkent to encourage closer ties between businessmen and tourists from both countries and to strengthen banking cooperation between the two countries.