Iran, Kyrgyzstan confer on agricultural ties

Iranian and Kyrgyz officials in a meeting in Dushanbe discussed ways to further expand the two countries' bilateral relations, specially in agricultural fields. The meeting was held between Kyrgyz Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Talay Beck Heydar Aliyev and Iranian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Ali Najafi on Wednesday. During the meeting Aliyev said Bishkek is ready to expand its agricultural cooperation with Tehran. He also called for fostering bilateral ties in the fields of agriculture and animal husbandry. Praising Iran's progress and development in different fields, Aliyev called on Tehran to share its valuable experiences and knowhow with Kyrgyzstan. Najafi, for his part, called for the consolidation of all-out ties with Bishkek, agricultural cooperation in particular. Iran and Kyrgyzstan have recently expanded their bilateral ties and mutual cooperation in different fields with Tehran new government’s intention to further develop relations with the neighbors. In September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev, underlined his administration’s political will to expand bilateral ties and mutual cooperation with Kyrgyzstan. During the meeting in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO), President Rouhani expressed the hope that the two countries would further boost their cordial relations in all areas of mutual interest. During the meeting, the Iranian and Kyrgyz presidents also exchanged views on ways of forging closer cooperation and the latest regional developments. The Kyrgyz president, for his part, said that his country sought close partnership with Iran, specially in the economic fields. “I hope that Tehran and Bishkek will work together closely to further bolster bilateral relations,” President Atambayev said.