Zarif: Iran to continue with its solid, good relations with Venezuela

Talking in a seminar to explore joint economic opportunities between Iran and Venezuela, he said the existing good relations between Tehran and Caracas is the legacy of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who was a token of independence-seeking and revolutionary policies.

According to IRNA, he said the Iranian and Venezuelan nations shared good memories of confronting hegemonic policies of foreign forces in long years.

He said the war and intimate relations between the two countries were due to their independence-seeking spirit and resistance which could be developed into even more deeper and strategic policies in future. 

He said the presence of two presidential aides and six ministers of the Venezuelan cabinet in the seminar indicated the importance of Tehran-Caracas relations.

The Iranian foreign minister said his visit to Venezuela served the purpose of bolstering ties with Latin America especially the progressive and peace-loving countries.

Noting that representatives of the Iranian banking, shipping, petrochemical industries, agriculture, oil, energy and export guarantee sectors are present in his delegation, the foreign minister said the Iranian private sector companies who have good memories of carrying out development projects in Venezuela especially in construction areas are ready to cooperate with their Venezuelan counterparts in energy, knowledge-based, nano-technology, bio-technology, foodstuff and medical industries in future.

The Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez too said Zarif’s visit to Venezuela came as continuation of very solid and strategic relations created during the time of Hugo Chavez.

She said Iran and Venezuela are two active members of such international bodies as the OPEC and the Non-Aligned Movement who enjoyed good bilateral relations.