Need for construction of Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan railway stressed

Astana, April 7, IRNA

Visiting IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Monday,
?Islamic Republic of Iran supports expansion of ties with Kazakhstan,
considering this country?s advancement and prosperity as advancement
of entire regional countries.?

According to IRNA?s dispatched reporter to Astana, Ahmadinejad who was
taking part at a press conference along with his Kazakh counterpart
Nursultan Nazarbayev after negotiations between high ranking Iranian
and Kazakh delegations, meanwhile predicted that his visit of the
country would lead to boosting bilateral ties.
The president emphasized that Iran considers no limits for, nor any
obstacles in the way of expansion of ties with Kazakhstan, and rather
considers such relations in favor of the entire region.
Ahmadinejad reiterated, ?Advancement and prosperity of Kazakhstan make
us happy and we consider the advancement of this country as the
advancement of the entire region.?
The president referred to his private talks with Nazarbayev and the
negotiations between the two countries? economic delegations,
reiterating, ?In these talks bilateral trade was discussed and the two
sides emphasized that the level of the two countries? economic ties is
improving, presenting ways for their further expansion.?
Ahmadinejad said that the existing consensus between Iran and
Kazakhstan in the field of agriculture, include swapping wheat,
cultivating lands, transfer of technology, and agricultural
cooperation, as those were other axes of talks with Kazakhstan.
The president reiterated that the level of cooperation between Tehran
and Astana is currently satisfactory in energy field, adding, ?Yet,
with planning over expansion of cooperation in petrochemical
industries, transfer of energy and upperhand energy fields, such as
the discovery of oil fields and expansion of energy industries, we can
further expand cooperation in the field.?
Ahmadinejad referred to the two presidents? emphasis over the urgent
need for the construction of a railway between Iran, Kazakhstan and
Turkmenistan, reiterating, ?At our Monday session it was also proposed
that also a highway should be constructed parallel with that railway.?
The president meanwhile emphasized over the need for the establishment
of a direct flight between Tehran and Astana, adding, ?Iran and
Kazakhstan can also cooperate in the field of shipping in the Caspian
Sea and the construction of cargo oil takers.?
The president added ?Iran can cooperate with this country in
transferring Kazakhstan?s oil to world oil markets.?
Ahmadinejad pointed out that the two countries? officials in their
talks also focused on making joint investments, too, saying, ?The
president of Kazakhstan presented a proposal for banking cooperation
between the two countries as the infrastructure basis for business and
economic cooperation.?
Ahmadinejad said that the legal system of the Caspian Sea was among
the other axes of Iran-Kazakhstan negotiations, adding, ?The two
countries have shared viewpoints in that respect, believing that the
Caspian Sea must be turned into the sea of peace and brotherhood and a
non-military sea in which all littoral countries? efforts aimed at
preserving that sea?s resources is needed.?
The president reiterated that Iran and Kazakhstan also have shared
viewpoints regarding Afghanistan, Iraq, confrontation with the
resulting losses and deficiencies, narcotic drugs and extremism.
Ahmadinejad pointed out that in these talks we also focused over the
global economic crisis, arguing, ?Although the crisis with which the
imperialist system is now entangled can pose threats against the other
nations and the leaders of that system, too, are interested in
transferring their problems to other countries, but we have plans
aimed at turning this threat into an opportunity.?
He pointed out that President Nazarbayev has presented a proposal for
designing new regional economic systems, adding that Iran welcomes
this proposal.
Ahmadinejad referred to the two countries? relations as ?expanding?,
adding, ?I predict a very bright future for bilateral ties, since Iran
and Kazakhstan enjoy brotherly relations and are both paving the path
for world peace and security.?
The president reiterated, ?Although the record of the two countries?
relations is not an old one, but its depth is due to the histories and
cultures of the two nations and the two nations are close to one
another from the cultural point of the view.?
Ahmadinejad further reiterated, ?Kazakhstan is today progressing
towards advancement and its status is improving both in the region and
in the world very rapidly.?
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran added that Iran is today
ready for dynamic cooperation in Kazakhstan?s development plans.