The presidents of Iran and Senegal urged Islamic states in a meeting here Saturday to play a more active and independent role in the international scenes.

President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal arrived here Saturday morning heading a ranking politico-economic delegation to discuss major bilateral, regional and international developments with senior Iranian officials.

He held an hour-long private talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after taking part in an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential premises in downtown Tehran.

Afterwards, the two presidents attended a joint meeting with members of Iranian and Senegalese delegations.

The two sides stressed the need for further Tehran-Dakar cooperation at the international circles due to the rapid changes occurring at the global scenes.

President Ahmadinejad said arrogant powers were to use resources and potentials of African and Islamic states to meet their endless demands.

He suggested that strengthening mutual cooperation and relations among African and Islamic countries would help resolve their problems independently.

As Senegal is, since 18 months ago, the current president of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, President Ahmadinejad said it could play an effective role in the process of the progress and development of its 56 member states.

The OIC is an association of the Islamic states which works to help promote Muslim solidarity in economic, social, and political affairs.

The Senegalese president, for his part, appreciated Iran’s presence in Africa noting that it would be in the interests of all African nations and governments.

He stressed that all African countries, Senegal in particular, were trying to reach self-sufficiency in meeting their demands in the fields of agriculture and providing foodstuff.

Referring to the growing trend of Tehran-Dakar relations, President Wade reiterated Senegal’s willingness to share Iran’s experiences in the fields of energy, supplying water and building of power plants.

President Wade is in Tehran on his fourth visit since 2006. He is to discuss major bilateral, regional and international issues in separate meetings with senior Iranian officials.