Iran, Burundi ink 8 cooperation agreements

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Burundi signed 8 documents on mutual cooperation in a move to further strengthen and expand their bilateral relations.The documents and cooperation agreements were endorsed by high-ranking Iranian and Burundi officials in a ceremony attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Burundian counterpart Pierre Nkurunziza in Tehran on Wednesday.The documents included a general Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and Burundi, an agricultural and animal husbandry MoU, an MoU on training in technical and vocational fields, an MoU on health, treatment and medical training, an agreement on encouragement and reciprocal support for investment, an agreement on trade cooperation and an MoU on consulate cooperation and lifting visa requirements.The documents were inked after a meeting between President Ahmadinejad and his Burundian counterpart in Tehran on Tuesday in which the two sides discussed bilateral ties and explored avenues for the enhancement of mutual cooperation between Tehran and Bujumbura.At the meeting, the Iranian and Burundian presidents underlined the need for the further expansion of bilateral relations in different fields.During the meeting, President Ahmadinejad described the visit by President Nkurunziza as a major step towards further development of friendly ties between the two nations.He pointed to the abundant potentials for the expansion of bilateral relations between Iran and Burundi, adding that the two countries can closely cooperate in the fields of agriculture, industry, trade, education, health, culture and politics.The Burundian president, for his part, pointed to the continuous expansion of ties between Iran and Burundi in past years, saying that his visit to Iran shows the solidification of mutual cooperation between Iran and Burundi in various fields.He said that Burundi "is determined to expand the level of its constructive ties with Iran in all fields".The Burundian president is heading a high-ranking delegation, including ministers and deputy ministers, during his visit to Iran.President Nkurunziza is also slated to hold talks with other senior Iranian officials during his stay in Iran.