June 18 2009
The presidents of Iran and Russia on Tuesday exchanged views on ways to expand ties and regional and international issues.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev met on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Russia, IRNA reported.
Ahmadinejad said Tehran and Moscow are natural allies and “we have to appreciate and take advantage of the existing capacities in the interest of both nations.”
He underlined that the world is on the verge of major changes that should be managed candidly.
Economic and political clout of the two countries has underpinned their ability to affect global developments, he said without elaboration.
The president thanked the host for organizing the SCO meeting and invited President Medvedev to visit Iran.
Medvedev expressed pleasure over Ahmadinejad’s presence in the meeting and congratulated him on his re-election. He expressed hope that bilateral cooperation would expand further.
The Russian leader noted that Russia and Iran are two effective countries in the region and in the world. “Tehran and Moscow should play their destined roles in the international arena,“ he stressed.
Meeting With Chinese Leader
Ahmadinejad also conferred on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on expansion of bilateral cooperation.
The two men called for expansion of cooperation at the regional and international levels and charting a long-term plan to this effect.
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Economic relations between the two countries are of the ascending order, Ahmadinejad said and called for making drawing on the untapped economic potentialities of both countries.
There is no limitation for Iran and China as two powerful players with huge economic potential to bolster cooperation, he said, and added that closer collaboration will be in the interest of both peoples.
We should prepare ourselves to deal with political and cultural developments in the world, he underlined.
The Chinese president congratulated his Iranian counterpart on his re-election and expressed hope that ties will deepen further.
Given the deep-rooted ties bilateral ties “We are confident that friendly and closer economic relations between the two countries will continue.“
He stressed that “the world is now on the brink of deep changes, and we believe that with collective cooperation it will be possible to overcome“ the ongoing economic and financial crises.
Ahmadinejad returned to Tehran after attending the SCO summit late Tuesday.
During a speech at the summit the he predicted the demise of “the age of empires,“ and said the capitalist system had all but failed.
He noted that the SCO can and should play it fair role in helping improve global affairs.
The SCO groups Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Iran, Pakistan and India have observer status.
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