Phnom Penh – Cambodia and Iran are looking for possibilities to strengthen and expand bilateral ties and cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two countries and peoples.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong held a talk on Monday with the Hanoi-based Iranian Ambassador to Cambodia Hossein Alvandi Behineh to discuss ways to increase relations in economics, trade, investment, tourism and education.

“Both sides agreed that the two countries should frequently exchange visits between their senior leaders and business peoples in order to heighten ties and cooperation in politics and business, ” Koy Kuong, Spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters after the meeting.

He said trade, investment, and tourism relations between the two countries were relatively small at the present, and Ambassador Alvandi Behineh had pledged to encourage Iranian investors to come to Cambodia for investment opportunities.

The ambassador also said Iran decided to grant a number of scholarships to Cambodian officials to study in the fields of oil and gas in Iran.

Meanwhile, Alvandi Behineh said Iran wanted to become a member of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and sought support from Cambodia.

For his part, Hor Namhong said Cambodia would welcome and support Iran to join the treaty.

Through the ambassador, Hor Namhong extended an invitation to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit Cambodia at a convenient time.

Cambodia and Iran forged diplomatic relations in 1992. Source: Xinhua