On the last leg of his European tour, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Latvian capital city of Riga early on Thursday.
Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis was the first official of the country whom Zarif met minutes after arriving in Riga.
“I hope this visit lead to expansion of bilateral ties especially in areas of trade, tourism, parliamentarian and political cooperation,” said Vējonis voicing his content with Iranian foreign ministers visit to Latvia.
Delivering Iranian President Rouhani’s greetings to Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis, Zarif also submitted the formal invitation of Tehran to Mr. Vējonis.
“Easing banking relations between the two countries is of prime importance,” said Zarif referring to the big economic delegation accompanying him in this visit adding that the bilateral relations are apt to all-out expansion in areas of economy and trade.
Moreover, Latvian president described the current political ties of Tehran and Riga positive and called for continuation of political cooperation and consultation. Exchanging views, Vējonis and Zarif also discussed the latest regional developments and the status of the crises in the western Asia.
The Speaker of the Saeima (the Parliament of Latvia), Ināra Mūrniece, Latvian Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Kaspars Gerhards, and Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, are the other officials of the eastern-European country slated to meet with Zarif.
The chief of Iran’s diplomatic system will also attend at opulent Radisson Blu Hotel of Riga for a meeting on Iran-Latvia trade. Meeting with his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkēvičs, Zarif and Latvian FM are scheduled to sign a political Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
European countries of Poland, Finland, and Sweden hosted FM Zarif in the last four days, and the senior Iranian diplomat met and talked with the high officials of those countries in separate bilateral meetings. Ending his European tour, FM Zarif will leave Riga for Tehran late on Thursday.
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