Off the wire
Boca Juniors clinch Libertadores semifinal spot  • Myanmar cracks down on narcotics, gambling in Mandalay region  • Tokyo stocks edge higher as yen's rise halts, markets eye G7 meeting  • Urgent: UN Security Council slams deadly terrorist attack on blue helmets in north Mali  • Australian state to trial "anonymous" job applications to tackle discrimination  • China Focus: China's Midea taps new business with Kuka bid  • Roundup: Theater chain not liable for Colorado movie massacre  • Qatar to take 33,000 Cambodian workers  • Xinhua China news advisory -- May 20  • Australian bank lends support to embattled dairy farmers  
You are here:   Home

New Zealand to step up political, economic links with Iran

Xinhua, May 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

New Zealand is to strengthen its official links with Iran when Foreign Minister Murray McCully visits Tehran this weekend.

McCully said Friday he would meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other members of the Iranian government during his visit.

"My visit to Tehran follows a successful visit to New Zealand by Minister Mohammad Zarif earlier this year," McCully said in a statement.

"Our discussions will cover a range of Middle East regional security issues and trade and economic relations between our two countries," he said.

"While in Tehran I will sign an agricultural cooperation arrangement, which will support exchanges between our farmers and producers, and announce the reinstatement of formal talks between Iran and New Zealand, known as the Political and Economic Cooperation Commission."

McCully would travel onwards to Istanbul to attend the United Nations World Humanitarian Summit.

"The World Humanitarian Summit is a chance for the international community to discuss our collective response to armed conflict and natural disasters. We will be particularly focused on highlighting the specific humanitarian needs of the Pacific region," McCully said. Endit