FM: Iran Ready to Help Guinea-Bissau

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi voiced Tehran’s readiness to help the West African state of Guinea-Bissau in different fields.

Salehi made the remarks in a joint press conference with Guinea-Bissau’s Foreign Minister Faustino Fudut Imbali here in Tehran on Sunday.

“We have considered some aids and we are going to study and discuss the prioritized aids which will help to the development of the Guinean nation,” Salehi said.

He explained that during his meeting with the foreign minister of Guinea-Bissau, the two sides have discussed mutual cooperation in areas of energy, agriculture, fishery, health, mining, diplomatic visa issuance and contacts between the two countries’ chambers of commerce.

Earlier this year, President of Guinea-Bissau Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo underlined his country’s willingness to widen bilateral relations with Iran.

Speaking in a meeting with Tehran’s Accredited Ambassador to Bissau Seyed Khalil Sadati Amiri, Nhamadjo said he is pleased with the steps taken for the expansion of the two countries’ relations, and added that the African state is determined to expand all-out relations with Iran.

“Guinea-Bissau is fully prepared to cooperate with Iran to develop all-out cooperation in investment, industrial, agricultural and trade fields,” he added.

During the meeting, the Iranian envoy stressed that Africa has a special place in Iran’s foreign policy.

He voiced Iran’s preparedness to assist Guinea-Bissau’s development and participate in the country’s development projects.

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.