TEHRAN, Apr. 18 (MNA) – Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in a meeting with Iranian FM Zarif said his country is ready to expand bilateral cooperation in all areas.

Prime Minister Kvirikashvili attached great significance to Zarif’s visit to Tbilisi, adding “considering my upcoming visit to Tehran, we are keenly interested and ready to further cooperation with Iran in all discussed areas.”

He also highlighted the importance of banking cooperation, saying his country is planning to normalize banking mechanisms to promote economic relations with Iran.

He further underscored the need for cooperation in other areas, including tourism and solar energy.

Foreign Minister Zarif, for his part, voiced Iran’s readiness to develop cooperation with Georgia in various fields of banking transactions, agriculture, water, construction, technology and tourism.

Zarif also held separate talks with Georgian foreign minister Mikheil Janelidze and Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze. During his meeting with Mr. Janelidze, the two sides called for cooperation in judicial, academic, transit pathway, banking fields as well as joint ventures, establishment of industrial estates and energy and gas cooperation between the two countries.

MS/IRN82497538