TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi here on Sunday highlighted the need for Iranian and African nations to promote economic relations in parallel with efforts to expand mutual cultural and political ties, IRNA reported.

Kharrazi, speaking at the opening ceremony of "The Forum of Iran-Africa Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges", put the volume of Iran's non-oil exports to African nations in the Iranian calendar year of 1380 (started March 21, 2001) at $78 million, stressing that this constituted only 1.5 percent of Iran's total exports over the period.

He stressed that diplomatic ties are always subject to economic relations, and underscored the need for developing nations to adopt practical approaches in order to better diversify economic bonds in various areas given the rapid trend of globalization.

Kharrazi said there existed numerous potentials in different areas for the African nations to boost economic relations with Iran.

He, however, regretted that such relations are often disrupted as a result of such factors as political instability and the lack of modern technology in African countries.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kharrazi voiced Iran's readiness to contribute to the struggles to push forward the causes of the new partnership for Africa's development (NEPAD).

He said Iran is ready to render services to African nations in industries such as oil, steel, copper, pipelines, as well as the projects to build dams and fisheries.

The two-day forum of Iran-Africa cooperation opened in Tehran Sunday with the participation of representatives from 20 African countries to discuss ways of expanding Iran-Africa economic cooperation. thr 027 kharrazi-forum-speech /pol/ kharrazi urges promotion of iran-africa economic ties tehran, march 9, irna -- foreign minister kamal kharrazi here on sunday highlighted the need for iranian and african nations to promote economic relations in parallel with efforts to expand mutual cultural and political ties. kharrazi, speaking at the opening ceremony of "the forum of iran-africa cooperation: opportunities and challenges", put the volume of iran's non-oil exports to african nations in the iranian calendar year of 1380 (started march 21, 2001) at dlrs 78 million, stressing that this constituted only 1.5 percent of iran's total exports over the period. he stressed that diplomatic ties are always subject to economic relations, and underscored the need for developing nations to adopt practical approaches in order to better diversify economic bonds in various areas given the rapid trend of globalization. kharrazi said there existed numerous potentials in different areas for the african nations to boost economic relations with iran. he, however, regretted that such relations are often disrupted as a result of such factors as political instability and the lack of modern technology in african countries. elsewhere in his remarks, kharrazi voiced iran's readiness to contribute to the struggles to push forward the causes of the new partnership for africa's development (nepad). he said iran is ready to render services to african nations in industries such as oil, steel, copper, pipelines, as well as the projects to build dams and fisheries. the two-day forum of iran-africa cooperation opened in tehran sunday with the participation of representatives from 20 african countries to discuss ways of expanding iran-africa economic cooperation. aa/rr end ::irna 14:41 ????????????????? 14-41-37.F18 ô‘?• ?‘?—÷? ?????????????????