Iran, Mexico discuss expansion of economic cooperation

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheikh Attar in Mexico City on Sunday held talks with Mexican Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Lourdes Aranda on ways to develop economic cooperation between the two countries.
 
Sheikh Attar told his Mexican counterpart that Iran and Mexico have more than one century old diplomatic relations, so the mutual economic cooperation should go in parallel with the excellent political ties.
 
The Iranian deputy foreign minister said that Iran has given priority to upgrading economic cooperation with Latin American countries.
 
He said that Iran has acquired successful experience in the field of implementing industrial and development projects in several countries including Venezuela.
 
Sheikh Attar said that Mexico enjoys advanced infrastructure which prepares the ground for Iranian participation in carrying out industrial projects in Mexico.
 
He said that the upcoming third meeting of Tehran-Mexico City joint economic commission will be a great step towards activating economic cooperation.
 
Mrs. Aranda said, for her part, that Iran and Mexico have extensive capacity to develop cooperation in the field of culture and history, citing the successful performance of exhibition of Iranian artifacts in Mexico in 2007.
 
She said that the event helped the Mexican people get acquainted with the Iranian people.
 
She said that the government of President Felipe Jesus Calderan has focused on strong presence in Latin America and development of economic cooperation with the Asian and African nations.
 
Mrs. Aranda said that Mexico will take part in the upcoming joint economic commission meeting due to be held in Tehran this year (2008).
 
She said that the government has presented a bill to the parliament which calls for boosting efficiency of the energy industry and is willing to enjoy Iranian experience in this respect.
 
The two officials agreed to make arrangements for exchange of visits of energy experts from the two countries.

Situation ripe to expand Iran-Mexico ties
Tehran Times Political Desk
 
TEHRAN -– There is a fertile ground for more cooperation between the Islamic Republic and Mexico, Iran’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheikh-Attar said in a meeting with his Mexican counterpart Lourdes Aranda on Sunday in Mexico.
 
Iran and Mexico plan to hold the third joint economic committee meeting in Tehran.
 
Sheikh-Attar said the meeting will be an important step in fueling the economic cooperation between the two countries, the Foreign Ministry press department said in a press release.
 
Extending ties with Latin American states is a foreign policy priority for Iran, he pointed out.
 
Aranda said that the two countries can cooperate in various fields and called for sharing Iran’s experiences in oil sector.
 
Mexico’s National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City hosted a rare display of Persian artifacts in 2007, and this was a successful experience in cultural cooperation, she noted.
 
In a separate meeting with President of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies Ruth Zavaleta Salgado, Sheikh-Attar said Iran views Mexico as an important country in the American continent and the situation is ripe for economic cooperation between the two countries.
 
Sheikh-Attar said Iran and Mexico have developed from a consumer stage to a producer one and have become producers of science and technology, he noted.
 
The envoy also appreciated the formation of a Mexico-Iran parliamentary friendship group at the Mexican parliament, and expressed hope the ties would expand through exchanging delegations