Iran's President, Niger PM stress further expansion of bilateral relations

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Niger Prime Minister Brigi Rafini explored avenues for the further expansion of the relations between the two states.During the meeting on Tuesday, President Ahmadinejad said the two countries enjoy high capacities and abundant potentials to increase their economic cooperation."The two countries have good possibilities and experiences which can be utilized at the service of the two nations' progress and welfare."He also said that Iran and Niger have common enemies on the international scene, and underlined the two countries' cooperation in the region and the Islamic world.The Niger Prime Minister, too, called for the further expansion of the relations between Tehran and Niamey in different economic, political and cultural fields."The two countries can expand their cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, science and technology and culture with no restriction or boundary."Ahmadinejad's administration has striven hard to maximize relations with the African continent.Iran is also an observing member of the AU and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.The country is considered as one of the AU's strategic partners along with India, Japan, China, several South American states and Turkey, while Tehran is also believed to be prioritizing promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states.