Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Iran and Tanzania will set up a roadmap to accelerate the expansion of relations in various fields.
Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks while speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Tanzania on Thursday on the second leg of his three-nation tour. He wrapped up a visit to Mali and is scheduled to travel to Zanzibar.
The Iranian foreign minister, who was welcomed by his Tanzanian counterpart Liberata Mulamula, said he plans to meet the African country's president to hand over to him an invitation from President Ebrahim Raeisi for a visit to Tehran.
He said businessmen and industrialists accompanying him in this trip would hold an important meeting in the city of Dar es Salaam to discuss ways to improve mutual relations.
The Tanzanian foreign minister hailed the visit by her Iranian counterpart to her country and told reporters that the two countries enjoy very close relations.
Enhanced economic ties with Africa priority for Iran: Amir-Abdollahian
Later in the day, the Iranian foreign minister said expansion of relations with Africa is among the priorities of the Islamic Republic’s economic diplomacy.
“Tanzania is one of the most important countries in this continent in this regard, which has always had a special place in Iran’s foreign policy, and the people and officials of the two countries have a positive view toward each other,” Amir-Abdollahian said while addressing the Iran-Tanzania Business Forum in Dar es Salam.
He added that the forum indicates the two sides’ keenness to promote economic cooperation and emphasized that Tanzania has great capacities for investment in various fields, such as mining, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, industries, tourism and exports of tropical fruits.
The top Iranian diplomat expressed his country’s readiness to help Tanzania achieve its goal in development and industrialization.
Addressing a joint press conference with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop in Bamako on Tuesday, Amir-Abdollahian said terrorism in West Asia and Africa is a product of interference by extra-regional countries.
“Interference by some extra-regional countries is the reason behind formation of some terrorist groups in the West Asia region and Africa,” the top Iranian diplomat said.
At the end of the first meeting of the Iran-Mali joint cooperation commission, the two countries signed a document and agreed to hold the next session in Tehran.
Before setting off for his regional tour of Africa on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic pays serious attention to improvement of ties with all regions of the world.
With regard to foreign policy, “Our priorities include Asia, neighboring countries as well as some other countries, including [those in] the African continent,” Iran’s foreign minister said.