"The Islamic Republic of Iran sees no restriction for enhancement of all-out ties with Tunisia, specially in scientific and research fields," President Ahmadinejad said at the meeting here in Tehran on Wednesday.
"Any advancement which has happened in Iran or will happen in future belongs to all Muslim brothers and should be used for the progress of each other. We should be beside one another and step towards growth and advancement with each other," he added.
Salem, for his part, expressed pleasure in his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and said, "The Tunisian nation is standing beside the cause, ideals and beliefs of the Islamic Revolution of Iran with its maximum power."
"Iran and Tunisia have rich culture, civilization, and history with a divine message for the world people, and I hope that we can repeat our past glories through expanding and developing our relations and cooperation," he added.
Earlier today, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost mutual cooperation in educational fields.
The MoU was signed in a meeting between Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Kamran Daneshjou and his Tunisian counterpart.
According to the MoU, the two countries agreed to exchange university professors and students, have joint supervision over theses and dissertations of post-graduate studies, and take part in joint conferences and seminars.
They also agreed on planning practical programs for joint projects, exchange of researchers and run joint projects in information technology and communications, genetics engineering, biotechnology, seismology sciences and engineering, nanotechnology, banking, and environmental sciences.
The Iranian and Tunisian officials also agreed to grant 20 scholarships at different graduate and postgraduate levels within the framework of the MoU.
Promotion of Persian and Arabic languages as well as recognizing the two countries' university degrees are included in the MoU as well.
The Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research started an official visit to Tehran on Tuesday at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.
During the three-day visit that will last until Thursday, Salem is scheduled to visit a number of Iranian academic and research centers.
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Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mocef Ben Salem voiced Tehran's preparedness to provide Tunis with its latest advancements in science and technology.
News ID 183572
