10 Countries Keen to Expand Trade-Economic Ties with Iran: Industry Minister

EghtesadOnline: Abbas Aliabadi said he held talks on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s 13th Ministerial Conference in UAE’s capital of Abu Dhabi, with industry and commerce ministers of more than 10 countries who voiced their keenness to expand their relations with Iran in the fields of trade, economy and industry.

The Iranian industry minister held talks with his counterparts from Serbia, Ivory Coast, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Nepal, Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Lebanon.

During the bilateral meetings, the industry ministers of these countries stressed the expansion of the trade, economic and industrial interactions with Iran, IRNA reported.

In his meeting with the Chinese minister of trade and commerce, Aliabadi stated that China is Iran’s major trade partner, adding that Tehran attaches great importance to promoting its relations with Beijing in the fields of trade and economy.

The Chinese trade minister, for his part, said that his country favors the expansion of the economic ties with Iran.

China has always backed Iran’s accession to the World Trade Organization and will continue to do so, China’s trade minister emphasized.

The World Trade Organization (WTO)’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) was launched in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on Monday with the aim of reviewing the functioning of the multilateral trading system and taking action on the future work of the organization.

Aliabadi, Head of the TPOI Mehdi Zeyghami, Iran’s Ambassador to the UAE Reza Ameri and some industrialists of the country have taken part in the conference, which will run through February 29. / Tasnim