Malaysian PM terms prospect of ties with Iran as bright

Tehran, Dec 23, IRNA - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said here on Tuesday that prospect of Tehran-Kuala Lumpur cooperation is bright and growing.

Badawi, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday at the head of high- ranking
delegation, made the remarks in a joint press conference with
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Trade between the two states stand at over dlrs one billion, he said,
adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran is Malaysia's third trade
partner in the Middle East.

Malaysian premier said that Tehran and Kuala Lumpur, through close
cooperation, can settle the existing problems in the areas of food
supplies and environment and ways to deal with the world financial
crisis.

The Iranian president said the two countries enjoy amicable relations.
There is no obstacle in the way of boosting trade, scientific
investment and technical cooperation.

On sanctions imposed on Iran, he said since the sanctions were
illegally imposed on the Iranian nation by certain bullying powers, it
was natural to be neutralized by the people.

"The Iranian nation welcomed the sanctions and turned them to an
opportunity for their progress," Ahmadinejad reiterated.

Praising scientific and technological achievements of the Iranian
nation in all areas, he said that the nation gained such achievements
through self-belief, independence from other countries and expansion
of ties with the friendly countries.

He reiterated that the unfair and unilateral international system is
the root cause of global monetary crisis.

Such unfair systems have proved inefficient to solve the existing
problems facing the world nations, Ahmadinejad said.

End