Abdolhamid Fekri, Iran’s Ambassador to Brunei, said Tuesday on the eve of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s visit to the Asian island that the warm political relations between the two countries especially in regional and international organizations is a good indicative of good bilateral ties; “Mr. Zarif’s visit to Brunei can both lead to the expansion of political and international relations as well as a boost in trade and economic transactions,” he said.
FM Zarif will depart for Brunei after a three-day visit to Singapore to meet with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States. He is tightly scheduled for his one-day visit in this rich, tiny island with a population of some 400,000 people.
According to the Iranian ambassador, Javad Zarif will meet with Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lim Jock Seng, and Minister of Energy and Industry Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar.
Fekri further referred to the meeting of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani with Hassanal Bolkiah in April on the sidelines of the Asia Africa Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, saying “after the lift of western sanctions against Iran, good opportunities have presented themselves for expanding economic relations with Brunei."
Iran and Brunei are ready to improve their economic ties in line with political relations and participate in joint investment projects, he added.
“Brunei with its small population is not a sufficient market for Iran, but it can serve as a gate for entering ASEAN and South East Asia," he said.
The ASEAN, which lays emphasis on economic growth among its members, groups Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
According to Fekri, a memorandum of understanding will be signed between Iran and Brunei in the future, as high-ranking Brunei officials have expressed their readiness for mutual cooperation with the Islamic Republic.
Starting his Asian tour on Sunday to Indonesia and following it up to Singapore on Monday, Foreign Minister Zarif will depart for Brunei on Wednesday and then visit New Zealand and Australia as the last legs of his tour.
MS/IRN81994679
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