TEHRAN (FNA) -- Pakistan's Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said Pakistan values its relations with Iran and the new government would take steps for further strengthening ties between the two brotherly countries.

Talking to Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Tashkiri, Iran's Advisor on Cultural Affairs at the Prime Minister's House, the Pakistani premier said his country attaches high priority to its relations with Iran, which are marked with shared history, geography, faith, culture and goodwill.
Gilani said both countries being members of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) had a responsibility to confront the challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah (nation) from within and the outside world.
He said as founding members of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Iran and Pakistan should take lead in making the body more vibrant in achieving economic integration of the region.
Ayatollah Tashkiri, for his part, told the Prime Minister that he was visiting Pakistan for attending the Conference on Islamic Unity being held in Peshawar.
He conveyed to Prime Minister Gilani the regards of Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, First Vice President of Iran Parviz Davoudi and other high ranking dignitaries.
The ayatollah expressed his condolences over the sad demise of Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
He invited the Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani to visit Iran's northern province of Gilan which is also his ancestral homeland.
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