TEHRAN – In a significant diplomatic development, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mohammad Boroujerdi, officially delivered his Letter of Credence to Kao Kim Hourn, the Secretary-General of ASEAN.

Ambassador Boroujerdi and Kao met at the ASEAN Secretariat on Monday.

Kao extended congratulations to Ambassador Boroujerdi on his recent appointment, marking the commencement of discussions about the imperative to enhance collaboration between ASEAN and Iran.

Both parties conveyed eagerness to fortify cooperation in areas of mutual interest, exploring potential avenues within frameworks such as ASEAN-Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and ASEAN-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Formed in 1967, ASEAN is a political and economic union of 10 states in Southeast Asia including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The regional organization aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its members. ASEAN has played a central role in Asian economic integration, joining negotiations to form the world’s largest free trade agreement and signing six free trade deals with other economies in the region. The group also regularly engages other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

In June of 2023, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held a meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General during his trip to Jakarta. During the meeting, Raisi emphasized the imperative to pursue the objectives set for the expansion of bilateral cooperation between Iran and ASEAN.

MAS