Iran and Venezuela have announced their decision to increase the volume of bilateral trade to 20 billion dollars, as the two countries signed a total of 19 cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding.
The announcement came in a joint press conference attended by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on Monday, after the two heads of state held bilateral talks.
“We have decided to increase the cooperation between the two countries,” Raisi said.
“The volume of trade exchanges between Iran and Venezuela will be increased to 10 billion dollars in the first step, which can be raised to 20 billion dollars in the second step,” Iran’s president said.
He noted that Tehran’s relations with Caracas are not ordinary diplomatic ties, but are of a strategic nature.
“Having common interests, positions and enemies has helped deepen cooperation between the two countries and make it strategic,” Raisi said.
The press conference was preceded by an official ceremony during which the two countries’ ministers and other top officials signed a total of 19 cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding.
The agreements are aimed at expanding cooperation between Tehran and Caracas in many areas, including in the field of petrochemicals, as the two sides move to expand overall cooperation in the oil sector.
The documents will also boost the two countries’ cooperation in areas of information and communication technology, energy, insurance, marine transportation, higher education, agriculture, medicine, culture and mines.
Raisi arrived at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas earlier on Monday, leading a high-ranking delegation, at the formal invitation of his Venezuelan counterpart.
Upon arrival, the Iranian president was welcomed by Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren as well as other senior officials from the Latin American country.
Within hours, Raisi was officially welcomed by his Venezuelan counterpart at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, after which the two heads of state sat for bilateral negotiations. The two countries’ high-ranking delegations also engaged in talks on issues of interest to both sides.
Source: Iranian media
