Enhancing co-operative ties between Vietnam and Iran President Truong Tan Sang welcomes Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad    Nhan Dan- Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began his two-day official visit to Vietnam today as guest of President Truong Tan Sang. As the highest level visit made by an Iranian leader since 1995, this visit aims to strengthen multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam in anticipation of the 40th anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The relationship between Vietnam and the Islamic Republic of Iran is enjoying further development in the fields of both politics and economics. Vietnam and Iran set up diplomatic ties on August 4, 1973. Iran opened its embassy in Hanoi in 1991 and Vietnam opened its embassy in Teheran in 1997. The Vietnam- Iran Friendship Association was established in September 2009. Vietnam and Iran held the seventh session of the Vietnam – Iran Intergovernmental Committee in January, 2012. The two countries have exchanged numerous high ranking delegations from ministries and sectors. They have signed many agreements of co-operation such as joint co-agreement on economic, cultural and scientific and technological co-operation in 1993, as well as trade and consular agreements. Vietnam and Iran established a joint committee in 1994. The two sides also signed agreement on cultural co-operation in 1995; agreement on bilateral consultation between the two foreign ministries in June 2000; agreement on aviation transportation in 2001 and agreement on marine transportation and trade in 2002. Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$165 million in 2011, including US$70 million from Vietnam’s exports and US$61 million in the first half of this year, of which Vietnam’s exports made up US$33 million. Vietnam mainly exports rice, tea, rubber latex, clothing and footwear to Iran, while importing fertiliser, asphalt and chemicals from the Middle Eastern country. The visit to Vietnam by the highest leader from the Islamic Republic of Iran aims to consolidate and strengthen the bilateral co-operative ties between the two countries, especially in trade, agriculture, fisheries, culture, sport and tourism. May the visit to Vietnam by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad be a great success, helping to boost all round co-operation between Vietnam and Iran, contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and development in the world. NHAN DAN