TEHRAN – With regard to global developments Iran and Kazakhstan should make efforts to promote mutual cooperation at regional and international levels, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.

In a meeting with Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov in Tehran late on Sunday, Ahmadinejad also said the progress of Iran and Kazakhstan will be in favor of the two nations and will help promote regional peace. 

The president also called Tehran-Astana ties friendly and said the two countries should utilize their potential to cement relations in all spheres. 

Ahmadinejad also said hegemonistic powers, which do not want independent countries like Iran and Kazakhstan to make progress, are in decline.  

For his part, Kazykhanov described relations with Tehran as close and said Astana is keen to enhance mutual cooperation at any level.

The foreign minister also welcomed efforts by Iran to promote cooperation among regional countries, saying Kazakhstan is ready to cooperate with Iran to help resolve issues related to the Caspian Sea and the conflict in Afghanistan

He also said his country attaches great significance to the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway project and said Astana is keen to increase the value of trade with Tehran up to 5 billion dollars.