Rouhani, Erdogan discuss region, bilateral trade
President Hassan Rouhani said closer interaction between Tehran, Moscow and Ankara on regional issues can help improve peace and security in the region.
The three states are the main sponsors of the Astana talks between Syria’s warring sides aimed at advancing a peace process. In a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, late Wednesday, Rouhani said, “Big steps have been taken to deepen the ties between Turkey and Iran over the past few years.”
However, he added, a major leap should be made in the relations to help increase mutual trade to $30 billion.
The two neighbors need to boost cooperation in the banking sector to encourage closer interaction between financial institutions in the two countries, Rouhani told the Turkish leader.
Erdogan congratulated Rouhani over his recent reelection and expressed Ankara’s resolve to boost bonds with Tehran.
Stressing that Ankara sees no obstacle to the enhancement of bilateral cooperation, Erdogan also expressed Turkey’s determination to increase annual two-way trade to $30 billion.
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