Iran, Venezuela Sign Agreements to Boost CooperationIran and Venezuela signed Monday in Tehran three agreements to boost their bilateral cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields.The agreement was inked on the last day of the four-day official visit to Iran by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who, leading a high-ranking delegation, Arrived in Iran on Friday, the official IRNA news agency reported. According to a memorandum of understanding signed by Chavez and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami, the two nations are to set up a high commission on expanding bilateral political, economic, cultural and scientific relations. The commission is composed of a high supervisory committee and a joint commission charged with following up the progress in the Iran-Venezuela bilateral ties. The first session of the joint commission is to be held in Venezuela's capital of Caracas in the second half of this year. The two sides also signed an agreement to boost cooperation in the area of science and technology and a document to make the two metropolises of Tehran and Caracas twin cities. On Sunday, Khatami and Chavez held official talks, both calling for "peace based on justice in the world." The two sides "hold similar views on OPEC-related issues and it will serve the interests of oil producers and consumers," Khatami said. Venezuela currently holds the rotating presidency of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in which Iran is the second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia. |
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