Publish Date: 8 September 2016 - 13:48

TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) – The President of French National Assembly Bartolone who is visiting Iran, travelled to the historic city of Isfahan on Wednesday and met with the Governor-general of the province.

“There are 107 cities and 833 villages and residential areas in Isfahan Province of Iran which homes 5 million of Iran’s population,” said Rasoul Zargarpour, Governor-general of the province, in his meeting with President of French National Assembly Claude Bartolone late on Wednesday in the renowned hotel of Isfahan, Abbasi Hotel.

The Iranian official boasted that Isfahan is a center for production of gold, steel, milk, chicken, egg, and oil derivatives in Iran which also homes some of best universities and peaceful nuclear plants of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“We are also willing to accept sisterhood of one of French cities with Isfahan to develop technology and culture relations,” said Zargarpour, “as Isfahan is in partnership with 14 cities across the world.”

The Governor-general of the province also referred to air routes between many cities around the world and Isfahan, especially opened after the successful implementation of the Iran-Sextet agreement of July 14, 2015, known as the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), and called for establishment of a direct route between one of French cities and Isfahan to improve tourism industry of both countries.  

“Good agreements were made during the visit of the French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Ségolène Royal, to Isfahan and Isfahan is willing to expand cooperation in areas of reducing air-pollution, and resolving water and irrigation problems,” asserted the Iranian official.

Accompanied by the head of France-Iran parliamentary friendship group and members of France defense commission and foreign policy, Claude Bartolone, in this meeting, for his part, referred to the vast potentials of cooperation between Iran and France and reassured that the two countries can have good interaction in the areas of water, agriculture, and environment.

“The visit of the French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Ségolène Royal, to Iran was in pursuance with developing interactions,” reassured Bartolone, “water crisis is the problem of many countries and as a result joint meetings are necessary to address the issue.”

Saying that many French, whether investors, culture-lovers, or from other walks of life, are eager to travel to Isfahan, Bartolone speculated that French visitors are a big part of travelers to Isfahan.

“We have to believe that tourism not only helps economy flourish but also established peace and serenity in the world,” asserted the French top parliamentarian.

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