Iranian top legislator Ali Larijani in a meeting with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee underscored the two countries' abundant commonalities, and said Tehran seeks strategic and long-term partnership with New Delhi.

During the meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, Larijani said Iran was looking forward to a strategic and long term partnership with India.

"India and Iran come from same roots and their destinies are the same. A large area of cooperation is possible between the two countries," Larijani said.

Larijani left Tehran for India on Sunday in a bid to discuss bilateral ties with Indian officials, specially in parliamentary grounds.

Heading a high-ranking parliamentary delegation, Larijani embarked on a 4-day visit to India at the invitation of Indian Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar.

Larijani is heading a high-ranking parliamentary delegation during the visit, which includes senior Iranian legislators Mohammad Ashouri, Gholam Reza Taj-Gardoun, Behrouz Nemati, Fatemeh Alia, and Esfandiyar Ekhtiyari.

Iran and India which have deep historical and cultural relations are now seeking to further expand political and economic ties.

India, the world's fourth-largest petroleum consumer, is Iran's second largest oil customer after China and purchases around $12bln worth of Iranian crude every year, about 12 percent of its consumption.
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News ID 184352