Rajapakse visits Iran for bilateral talks

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 November 2007, 14:29 GMT]
Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported Monday that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially welcomed his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapakse, at the Presidential Office. Earlier IRNA quoting Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad-Ali Hosseini, said that Mr Rajapakse will be "heading a high-ranking political-economic delegation."

Rajapakse was welcomed at Mehrabad International Airport by Commerce Minister Massoud Mir-Kazemi, the report on IRNA said.

"During his two-day visit to Iran, President Rajapakse is to discuss key bilateral issues with senior Iranian officials," Mr Hosseini was quoted as saying.

"A number of documents are expected to be signed by the Iranian and Sri Lankan officials on bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, shipping and customs affairs," said the spokesman.

"He added that a memorandum of understanding for Tehran-Colombo cultural and commercial cooperation is also expected to be signed by the Iranian and Sri Lankan officials," the report further said.

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