TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday congratulated his Turkmen counterpart on the anniversary of the country’s independence, expressing hope that the relations between the two countries would expand.

“Given old historical and cultural affinities between the Iranian and Turkmen nations which have laid the ground for friendly and close ties between the two countries, I hope that good relations between the two countries would be expanded in various areas through mutual cooperation,” Rouhani wrote in a message to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

Rouhani also congratulated the Turkmen government and people on anniversary of the country’s independence.

On October 27, 1991, Turkmenistan declared its independence from the Soviet Union.

NA/PA