Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani who has returned from Sudan after attending the 8th General Assembly Meeting of the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union (IIPU) stressed that Tehran and Khartoum share almost identical viewpoints on developments in the region.

"Presence in Sudan was a good opportunity for meeting and talking with the heads of that country," Larijani said upon arrival in Tehran on Wednesday.

"Viewpoints of Iran and Sudan on regional developments are pretty close and both sides are asking for the expansion of bilateral relations," he added.

Larijani pointed out that in bilateral meetings with the first vice president and the parliament speaker of Sudan those officials asked for the presence of Iranian investors and technocrats in their country, adding that the ground is paved for the presence of Iranian capitalists and industrialists in Sudan.

Iranian and Sudanese leaders have on many occasions laid increasing emphasis on the expansion of ties and cooperation between the two nations.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir said on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran (August 26-31) that the relations between the two countries are "excellent", but meantime urged a bolstering of mutual cooperation.

Also, during a visit to Sudan late in September 2011, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lauded the close ties between Tehran and Khartoum, and underlined that the two countries are resolved to boost mutual cooperation with no limit or boundary.

Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union's strategic partners.

Tehran's efforts to boost ties and cooperation with Africa have led to its acceptance as an observing member of the African Union (AU), where it has shown an active presence in the AU summit meetings.

irna/281

News ID 184051