South Korea PM, Larijani Discuss Avenues to Broaden Economic Coop.

EghtesadOnline: Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon of South Korea says his government is willing to help boost cooperation and trade between the two countries.

News ID: ۷۷۷۲۸۹

30 June 2017

"We are ready to expand cooperation with Iran by exploiting the existing potential for collaboration in various domains," Lee said in talks with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani on the margins of the second meeting of parliament speakers of Eurasian countries in Seoul on Tuesday.

The premier was reiterating an earlier call by the South Korean government for closer bilateral economic cooperation.

"Our government hopes Iran, by seizing the opportunity emanating from the election, could take a more constructive role in the international community and move toward the path of development and prosperity .We also expect the friendly relationship between South Korea and Iran to move in a way that is mutually beneficial," South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement last month to congratulate President Hassan Rouhani on his reelection, Financial Tribune reported.

Larijani said the removal of sanctions against Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal has improved the prospects of renewed vitality in Tehran-Seoul relations.

"Cooperation between Iran and South Korea in various economic fields marks a start in the revival of close bilateral ties," the senior lawmaker was quoted as saying by IRNA.

The nuclear pact was clinched between Iran and major powers and took effect in July 2016 to temporarily curtail Iran’s nuclear program in return for relief from international economic sanctions.

Removal of sanctions prompted high-profile visits by foreign economic delegations vying for a share of the untapped Iranian market.

Iran was South Korea's second-biggest oil exporter over the first three months of 2017. Larijani vowed to use his legislative mandate to help ensure quick and proper enforcement of the agreements signed earlier.

"The Majlis will use its powers to help implement the deals signed between Tehran and Seoul."

Effective Alliance

He held talks with Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament and hailed the anti-terror cooperation between the two sides.

"Despite the propaganda by some countries that is all talk and no action about fighting terrorism, Iran and Russia have had a successful record of joint action against terrorism both in the field and in efforts to find a political solution [to the Syria conflict] through the Astana talks."

Tehran and Moscow are allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is embroiled in a long and drawn-out bloody war against armed groups seeking to dislodge him.

Frustrated with a UN-sponsored push to end Syria's six-year crisis, Turkey, a backer of Assad's opponents, joined Iran and Russia late last year to initiate a separate push in the Kazakh capital Astana, aimed at securing a lasting peace that would ultimately lead to a diplomatic settlement.