Iran, Turkey discuss cultural ties

Iranian Cultural Attaché in Ankara Abulhassan Khalaj Monfared and Turkish Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Abdelrahman Ariji in a meeting in Ankara discussed expansion of bilateral ties, specially in cultural fields.During the meeting in the Turkish capital on Friday, Monfared and Ariji underlined the necessity for bolstering and reinvigorating cultural ties between Iran and Turkey.The two sides also called for holding the second meeting of the joint cultural relations committee in the near future.The Turkish side said that it will inform the Iranian side of the appropriate date for holding the meeting in future.Last month, Tehran's Envoy to Ankara Alireza Bigdeli lauded the close ties between Iran and Turkey, and stressed that the relations between the two neighboring countries are moving in the right direction.Bigdeli said that he will do his utmost to develop and deepen mutual ties between the two countries.He further stressed that "he hopes to be able to accelerate the move to increase trade exchange volume" between the two countries.Iran and Turkey have recently expanded their bilateral relations, especially in trade and energy fields. Trade between Turkey and Iran has risen sharply over the past decade.Also, Turkey was Iran's fifth-largest oil customer in 2011, buying around 200,000 barrels per day, 30 percent of its total imports and more than 7 percent of Iran's oil exports.The two countries officials stressed the necessity for stronger relations and pursuing the planned increase of mutual trade to $30bln by 2015.