Nigeria can be the center of regional cooperation in Africa, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said here Monday.
Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with his visiting Nigerian counterpart
Geoffrey Onyeama.
Zarif described the trade and banking prospect in post-sanctions era as good,
saying Africa can be the center of regional cooperation.
Iran and Nigeria can improve their technological, scientific and economic
capacities within the framework of regional and bilateral cooperation, said
Zarif.
There are enormous opportunities for Iranian and Nigerian businesspersons and
entrepreneurs. who should try to expand bilateral ties, noted Zarif.
Referring to the threats resulted from terrorist groups of Daesh, Boko Haram and
Al Shabaab, Zarif said there is no link between the extremists approach and Shia
and Sunni lessons.
For his part, the Nigerian minister described Iran as a great country.
He said his country is willing to deepen ties with Iran.
He said Abuja is ready to identify new grounds for further bilateral relations
with Tehran.
The Nigerian foreign minister planned a Tehran visit to attend the ministerial
meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) that was held in Saturday
and Sunday.
The summit meeting of the GECF is being held in Tehran this afternoon with
participation of the seven world president including the Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani and the Algerian prime minister.