Iran, Japan have excellent ties: envoy

Tokyo, Nov 19, IRNA - Iran's ambassador to Japan said here on Tuesday that although ties between the two countries are age old, the year 2009 marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Tokyo.

Speaking at a one-day seminar on investment opportunities in Iran in
Tokyo, Abbas Araqchi dwelt on numerous potentials in Iran for
investment in various fields including the oil and gas sectors.

Listing oil and gas, petrochemical, auto industries,
privatization, non-oil exports, oil reserves as areas of cooperation
between the two sides, he further said that Iran plans to invest dlrs
500 billion in the oil and gas sector in the next 15 years.

Describing Iran as the third oil exporter to Japan, Araqchi also said
that it meets 12 to 14 percent of its crude demands.

Referring to Iran's peaceful nuclear program, he further noted that it
believes that the issue will be solved through dialogue and Iran
presented it proposals to the Group of 5+1 in May.

He pointed out that Iran's package of proposals to those countries
provides a suitable and exceptional opportunity which can pave the way
for dialogue and solve international problems.

There is no problem in Iran-Japan ties that a third country wants to
solve, Araqchi said.

Describing Iran as a big regional power in the Middle East, he said
that no country can overlook its significant role in settling
international and regional problems.