TEHRAN - Iran's Minister of Transport and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash attended the ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey at the country’s embassy in Tehran.

During this visit, Bazrpash negotiated promoting bilateral ties including the holding of the eighth meeting of the Iran-Turkey Supreme Council of Economic Cooperation Committee, Mehr News Agency reported.

At the invitation of Turkish Ambassador in Tehran Hicabi K?rlang?ç, Bazarpash gave a speech on the occasion of Republic Day of Turkey in which he emphasized the expansion of bilateral relations and strengthening of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in all fields, particularly transport cooperation.

Addressing the ceremony, the Iranian minister congratulated the National Day of the Republic of Turkey to the government and people of Turkey, and announced that, in the near future, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Ankara to attend the 8th meeting of the Iran-Turkey Supreme Council of Economic Cooperation for promoting bilateral relations.

He also expressed hope to hold the 29th Iran-Turkey Joint Economic committee meeting in Tehran with the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey, Osman A?k?n Bak, who is in charge of the Iran-Turkey Joint Economic Committee.

Bazarpash, as the head of the 'Iran-Turkey Joint Economic Committee, expressed hope for the expansion of bilateral relations in all political, economic, commercial, scientific, and cultural arenas.

The official explained that Iran's Government attaches great importance to the development of comprehensive relations with its neighbors in the framework of the neighborhood policy and the Republic of Turkey has a special place and importance in this regard.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkey pursue the development and deepening of bilateral relations with strong political determination, he emphasized.

"The cooperation of the two great powers of the region, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkey, in addition to maintaining mutual interests of the two countries, can bring peace, stability, security, development, and prosperity to the region," the official added.

Referring to the statistics, Bazarpash said, "According to the report of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, the volume of trade between Iran and Turkey has increased to $13.4 billion; however, considering the high potentials of the two countries and the geopolitical and geoeconomic position of the two countries, this volume of trade between the two countries is yet far from the target of $30 billion."

He added that Iran and Turkey play a complementary role in almost all economic and commercial fields and cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy and electricity, in addition to meeting mutual needs, can provide a platform for regional cooperation.

In addition to trade, the geographic location of the two countries has provided a precious opportunity for cooperation and synergy in transport, and fortunately, the authorities of the two countries have recognized this importance and aim for closer cooperation for completing the East-West and North-South transport corridors, he added while stating that for about 400 years, Iran-Turkey border has been a border of friendship, brotherhood, peace and stability, and God willing, it will continue to be so.

Turkey is the third trading partner of the Islamic Republic of Iran in exports and imports, and the volume of trade between the two countries has been increasing after the pandemic.

Previously in July 2022, Tehran hosted the seventh meeting of the Iran-Turkey Supreme Council of Economic Cooperation when Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, and other high-ranking officials met to discuss solutions to improve relations between Tehran and Ankara in various areas. Then, the presidents of Iran and Turkey emphasized accelerating the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries in economic, infrastructure, security, political, cultural, and sports affairs.

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