TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called Ukraine a “friendly country” and said Iran welcomes expansion of ties between the two countries in various areas.

“Relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Ukraine have been good and growing and Tehran calls for boosting these friendly ties,” Rouhani said during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in Tehran.

Rouhani also said it is essential to expand cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.

Banking cooperation between the two countries will facilitate economic relations, the president said.

The president also called for expanding relations in spheres of culture, science, technology and tourism.

Elsewhere, Rouhani said that “political dialogues” are the only ways to settle the crises in the region and establish security.

------Iran, Ukraine can have constructive cooperation, Zarif says

In a separate meeting with Klimkin on Sunday Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said Iran and Ukraine can establish “constructive cooperation” in areas such as campaign against drug trafficking and organized crimes.

Zarif said the two countries have potential to expand economic and industrial relations.

He said that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name for the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 countries, facilitates financial interactions between the two countries.

He also called for expansion of cultural relations.

For his part, Klimkin called for expansion of political and economic relations at various levels.

Ukraine is willing to take steps in activating the joint economic committee, Klimkin added.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Saturday saying that the lifting of economic and financial sanctions against Iran has provided opportunities for a better realization of capacities for cooperation.

It also said Iran is one of the “main partners” of Ukraine in the region and there are great avenues to deepen ties in commerce and economy.

NA/PA