Iran, Turkey urge enhanced ties

Iran and Turkey have stressed the importance of bolstering relations in all fields and holding constant consultations with regard to the unfolding developments in the Middle East, Press TV reported with reference to Majlis news agency.

"Tehran's approach is based on the expansion of all-out ties with Ankara with no limitation," Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Alaeddin Boroujerdi said in a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Umit Yardim.

The Iranian official praised the growing relations between the two countries, particularly in economic, political and parliamentary fields, and added that Iran and Turkey enjoy great potential to further improve amicable ties.

Yardim, for his part, said that the recent developments in the Middle East have highlighted the significance of regular consultation between Iranian and Turkish officials.

The ambassador pointed to the increasing trade between the two countries and added that the economic exchanges are expected to reach USD 15 billion in the current year.

The trade volume between Iran and Turkey has reportedly increased by more than 70 percent, surpassing USD 2.144 billion in the first two months of 2011.

According to a report released by the Turkish Statistical Institute, the volume of trade between the two neighboring states reached USD 963.559 million in February, showing a 43.65% increase compared with the same period last year.

Bilateral trade between Iran and Turkey has surged in recent years, reaching USD 10 billion in 2010, compared with a figure of USD 1 billion in 2000.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in mid February, expressed the Islamic Republic's firm determination to increase the value of annual trade ties with Turkey to USD 30 billion.

We are determined to immediately increase the value of our annual trade ties with Turkey to USD 30 billion through the expansion of all-out cooperation, said the Iranian chief executive in a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in the Iranian capital city of Tehran in February.


/Trend/