TEHRAN – Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf left Iran for a two-day trip to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. 

The official suggested that Iran and the UAE can turn into a global economic hub during a meeting with the Arab country’s president.

“Thanks to the geographical location of the two countries, Iran and the United Arab Emirates can become a global economic center, this opportunity can be ensured by our bilateral relations and membership in the BRICS group of emerging economies,” Ghalibaf told Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan 

He also declared that his trip is telling of the Islamic Republic's seriousness towards the expansion of bilateral ties with the UAE. 

"We intend to take a strong step forward for the future in all areas, and expand the countries' economies in all aspects. There exists innumerable great opportunities in this regard".

Ghalibaf also met with his UAE counterpart on Friday. He thanked the country for its hospitality towards Iran’s parliamentary delegation and expressed hope that the trip can help strengthen ties between the two nations. "I hope that this trip, which aims to promote the trend of political and economic interactions and elevate the level of parliamentary relations between the two countries, can be a turning point for achieving various goals," He stressed. 

The official also stated that Iran prioritizes the development of relations with neighbors as its first priority and a definite policy in its foreign policy. "A strategic approach to neighboring countries can develop bilateral relations in various dimensions, create security and sustainable peace, unite Islamic countries and the Islamic Ummah, and ultimately contribute to development and progress in West Asia,” he stated. 

Saqr Ghobash, for his part, hoped the trip can bring about strong motivation for the two countries to expand cooperation in different fields and strengthen the foundations of their relations.

MHA/PA