Iran (IMNA) - We are committed to finish the north-south transit route, Ayatollah Khamenei said in Tehran on Wednesday at a meeting with the visiting Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. "Given the important place of overland and rail communications in the global economy," he said.
Iran is a signatory to the International North-South Transport Corridor, a 7,200-kilometer (4,473-mile) multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road connections connecting Iran, Central Asia, India, Azerbaijan, Russia, and the rest of Europe.
Therefore, the landlocked Central Asian governments would have access to Iran as a transit hub and so have access to the world transit network.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the Turkmen official's request for the support of Iranian specialists and experts in the construction of a highway that would connect the area of the border between Iran and Turkmenistan with the Caspian Sea, claiming that Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development was capable of establishing such an overland route.
The Leader, however, believed that there were many cultural similarities between Iran and Turkmenistan.
According to Ayatollah Khamenei, "the instances of cultural similarity serve as an important foundation for further development of the [bilateral] relations in various fields, particularly in the fields of energy and roads."
The Leader stated that the Islamic Republic was ready to participate in such collaboration and noted that there was opportunity for further growth of bilateral cooperation in terms of the mutual commercial relations.
Ayatollah Khamenei voiced hope for the future of the nations' ties, stating that the expansion of bilateral cooperation will improve the stature of the nations in the rapidly shifting international environment.
The Turkmen official was pleased to be present and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak with the Leader, noting that he had frequently benefited from the Leader's insights and counsel in the past, including during his time as president of Turkmenistan.
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