Speaking briefly to reporters in Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport Friday morning, Rouhani said Pakistan is important for Iran with large Muslim population and historical ties and cultural with Iran.
"Since independence in 1948, Pakistan had had good relations with Iran and both nations have similarly equally cordial ties,” he told the press.
This is his first visit to Pakistan as president and first foreign visit in the new Iranian year.
“The visit is by an official invitation by Prime Minister Navaz Sharif of Pakistan and both sides are resolved to improve relations in different venues of cooperation,” President Rouhani underlined.
“Iran could be a reliable source of energy for eastern neighbor; we have signed a number of agreements in intelligence and hope the implementation of accords help provide security to southeast borders in Sistan and Baluchistan,” Rouhani added. “Iran and Pakistan could work to develop transportation line to connect east to west; culturally speaking, Persian language and alphabet is popular with Pakistani ethnicities,” Rouhani asserted.
Rouhani concluded the speech with a brief agenda of his visit to Islamabad: “terrorism and other regional issues will be the focus of the meetings with Pakistani officials; Pakistan is a member of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and there will be excellent grounds for bilateral cooperation,” he said.
SH/3585046/3585070