Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran is pursuing what he termed a policy of “provincial diplomacy” to promote Iran’s trade and cultural relations with its neighbouring countries.
Speaking at a conference in Tabriz University on Wednesday, Iran’s top diplomat stressed the role of trade and cultural exchanges between the border provinces and the neighbouring countries saying, “the Foreign Ministry is supporting provincial diplomacy to further bilateral ties with neighbours”.
“The two provinces of East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan, and the provinces of Gilan and Ardabil, can play again the historical role (of serving as gateways) in relations with neighbouring countries, including Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey,” IRNA quoted him saying.
Araghchi also said that the Foreign Ministry has the implementation of the policy of provincial diplomacy on its agenda “so that Iran’s diplomatic missions can establish effective ties with the provincial capitals to help develop trade, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural cooperation”.
Last week, the Iranian foreign minister opened the provincial diplomacy conference in the northeastern city of Mashhad in which he stated that economic ties with the neighbouring countries are the “breathing space” in the wake of sanctions.
“Iran's trade with each of its neighbouring countries is more than total trade with Europe,” said Araghchi as Tehran is under U.S. and European sanctions over its civilian nuclear program.
“Majority of bilateral issues can be reviewed and resolved at border areas,” he added, “Iran’s priority in foreign relations is its immediate neighbours and next the nearby countries in the region.”
According to Araghchi, smugglers and terrorists do not cross the borders through which goods are exchanged and passengers travel.
“As the saying goes, if local officials in border provinces reach agreements with neighbouring provinces, the borders will function as borders of peace,” he said.
An aircraft thought to be an Indian fighter jet performing in the Dubai Air Show crashed during an aerial display on Friday....
The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Media Forum, themed “Promoting Dialogue, Cooperation and Regional Solidarity,” has commenced in Baku...
European Union support for Ukraine will continue, as the country is the victim of aggression, stated Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commiss...
Air cargo services between India and Afghanistan will be launched soon, an Indian foreign ministry official said on Friday, as the two countries seek ...
Iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's painting 'El sueño (La cama)' sold for $54.7 million at a Sotheby's auction on Thursday, setting a new auction re...
An aircraft thought to be an Indian fighter jet performing in the Dubai Air Show crashed during an aerial display on Friday.
The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Media Forum, themed “Promoting Dialogue, Cooperation and Regional Solidarity,” has commenced in Baku.
European Union support for Ukraine will continue, as the country is the victim of aggression, stated Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, on Friday. She added that sanctions imposed on Russia are having a significant impact on its economy.
Brussels is set to issue a formal warning to Rome over concerns that Italy's far-reaching "golden power" rules may breach European Union law, the Financial Times said on Friday, citing two European officials.
Indonesian authorities evacuated more than 900 people from nearby villages and were helping 170 stranded climbers return safely after the eruption of Semeru volcano, one of the country's tallest mountains.
An aircraft thought to be an Indian fighter jet performing in the Dubai Air Show crashed during an aerial display on Friday.
Germany has returned 12 royal-era cultural artefacts to Ethiopia in a ceremony in Addis Ababa, marking a formal step in ongoing cultural cooperation between the two countries.
An off-the-cuff remark by new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that triggered Japan's biggest bust-up in years with powerful neighbour China was not meant to signal a new hardline stance.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has announced plans by Tehran to bring together Afghanistan's neighbouring states including Russia and China in a regional meeting aimed at addressing ongoing tensions with Pakistan.
The cancellation of the long-anticipated Georgia–EU Human Rights Dialogue — just days before it was set to take place — has ignited a political storm that neither side seems prepared to extinguish.
At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in a part of Gaza under Hamas control since a shaky ceasefire took effect in October, local health authorities said.
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian’s official visit to Georgia is testimony to a rapidly strengthening partnership between the two neighbouring state following the initialling of the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement.
The governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have launched a new visa-free border trade zone at Shavat–Dashoguz that allows mutual visa-free movement for their citizens.
At the Kazakhstan - Estonia business forum, companies from both countries signed 11 commercial agreements totalling more than $517 million.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment