Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have discussed cooperation in economy, trade, transport connectivity and tourism between Bulgaria and Iran.

Last year we celebrated the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, which is a proof of the historical and traditionally good relations between Bulgaria and Iran, said the Speaker of Parliament. Tsveta Karayancheva emphasised that parliamentary cooperation had an important role for the development of bilateral relations, and added that it was fostered by the regular dialogue between parliamentary groups for friendship in the two parliaments.

The Speaker of Parliament extended an invitation to Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Dr Ali Larijani to visit Bulgaria. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif thanked and assured the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament that such a visit would be made in the near future.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said that there were strong ties between the Bulgarian and the Iranian nation. He said that there were many areas of cooperation between Bulgarian and Iran, such as transport, high technologies, construction and industry. He emphasised that the two countries should also work towards increasing trade exchange.

At the meeting, it was mentioned that the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU could have a constructive role for expanding cooperation between the EU and Iran.

Chair of the Bulgaria-Iran Friendship Group Krasimir Sabev also attended the meeting.