Kazakhstan, Astana, Oct. 10 / Trend , A.Maratov /
Kazakhstan and Iran intend to renew the swap operation on grain and petroleum, Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov said.
"There is a serious interest in resuming swap operations on grain and oil across the Caspian Sea. The Iranian side expressed its keen interest in the purchase and transit of the Kazakh grain through its territory to other countries, particularly to Iraq," Kazykhanov said.
Last week, Kazykhanov paid his first official visit to Iran. He met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.
"Overall, I would like to note a strong interest in broadening and deepening of economic cooperation between our countries," Kazykhanov said on the outcome of meetings in Tehran.
Iran is a major neighbor of Kazakhstan on the Caspian Sea.
He said the two countries have turned out co-operation relations and planned new projects. In particular, this is the Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan - Iran rail routewith access to the Persian Gulf.
"The Iranian companies are interested in Kazakhstan's market and Iran made certain investments. I think we are ready to expand and deepen our cooperation," Kazykhanov said.
The meetings in Tehran also discussed the legal status of the Caspian Sea.
"We have common approaches to the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. The Iranians support our proposals for the national zone, economic waters. We oppose the militarization of the Caspian Sea and set up and continue to expand, intensify our cooperation in this direction," he said.
Astana will soon host a meeting at the level of deputy foreign ministers on the legal status of the Caspian Sea and biodiversity of the Caspian Sea, he said.
The parties also discussed the situation in Afghanistan.
"Iran, being a neighbor of Afghanistan, has played an important role in stabilizing the situation in this country. Therefore, it is very important for us to maintain dialogue and cooperation with Iran on stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan," Kazykhanov said.
The situation in the Middle East, North Africa, Yemen and the Palestinian question also were mulled in Tehran.
"We noted the need to combine efforts of the Islamic States to provide humanitarian assistance to affected regions of Somalia and other countries in the Islamic world," he said.
Iran and Kazakhstan will mark the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic relations in January 2012.
"Iran was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Kazakhstan and opened its embassy in us. This anniversary date, we plan to coincide with the holding days of culture, perhaps, as in Iran, and Kazakhstan," Kazykhanov said.
Kazykhanov said the Kazakh people need to know more about the history and culture of neighboring Iran.