Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi underlined Tehran’s eagerness to expand ties with Namibia.
The Iranian foreign minister made the remark upon his arrival at Windhoek International Airport on Sunday morning.
Salehi pointed to the reopening of the Iranian Embassy in Namibia after 15 years, and said, “Namibia, an important country in Africa, is the continent’s fourth exporter of mineral resources while Iran has invested in that country’s mining sector …”
He noted that there are many opportunities for Iran to make the best use of that country’s facilities and conditions in line with both nations' interests.
The Iranian foreign minister said that Iran and Namibia can broaden their relations in different areas, adding that Iran has many experiences in different fields, specially the domain of infrastructure.
Salehi arrived in Namibia’s capital of Windhoek earlier today on the third leg of a tri-nation tour of Africa, which took him to Zimbabwe and Comoros earlier.
During his five-day tour, the Iranian foreign minister who left Tehran on Thursday is due to discuss major bilateral, regional and international developments with officials of Zimbabwe, Namibia and Comoros.
Promotion of bilateral relations with African states is a priority of Iran's foreign policy.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration has striven hard to maximize relations with the African continent.
Iran is also an observing member of the AU and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.
The country is considered as one of the AU's strategic partners along with India, Japan, China, several South American states and Turkey, while Tehran is also believed to be prioritizing promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states.
