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Iran attaches importance to relations with Africa and Ghana: Rouhani

Xinhua, February 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said here on Sunday that Iran attaches great importance to its relations with Africa and Ghana in particular.

"In our meetings on Sunday, we reviewed the significant aspects of our bilateral ties," Rouhani said at a joint press conference with his visiting Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.

There are considerable capacities in the areas of oil, gas, petrochemicals, technical and engineering services, and agricultural areas that the two countries can cooperate, Rouhani was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

Also, the mining sector, cement production as well as manufacturing home appliances are the grounds that both sides expand their relations, he said.

During the meeting, both presidents discussed regional and international political issues, particularly the issue of terrorism which has also overrun some parts of the African continent, Rouhani said.

He pointed to Mahama's travel to Iran, as the first visit by an African leader to Tehran in the post-sanctions era, expressing the hope that the visit will help further development of Iran-Ghana relations.

For his part, Mahama expressed content to be the first African leader to visit the Islamic republic in the aftermath of the nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers, and said that "the nuclear deal (signed in July 2015) provides an opportunity for Iran to play its role in the development of peace in the Middle East and the world."

He also drew upon the presence of terrorist groups in some parts of Africa, calling for joint work among the states to fight extremism and terrorism. "Only through the cooperation, we can defeat terrorism," he was quoted as saying.

Mahama began his official visit to Tehran on Sunday at the invitation of Rouhani. He is scheduled to meet the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and will hold discussions with the Speaker of Majlis (Parliament), Ali Larijani.

Ghana and Iran have a long standing relationship as members of the Non-Aligned Movement. In 2014, during a visit to Ghana by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the two countries established a Permanent Joint Commission. Endit