Speaking in a joint press conference in Islam Abad, in the presence of Pakistan’s prime minister Shahbaz Sharif, Iranian president, Ibrahim Raisie said: activating the existing commercial potentials of the two countries will definitely cause Iran and Pakistan’s people to reap the benefits.

“In a high-ranking meeting on Monday, we decided to promote our bilateral relations in a variety of areas including political, economic and cultural issues” Raisie told the conference.

He continued: possibly some may not like deepening relations between the two countries but the important thing for us is the benefits of the two nations and that is why during a bilateral high-ranking official meeting, we decided, as the first step, to promote the level of economic and trade cooperation to as much as 10billion dollars per year.

According to Raisie, the great Iranian nation has been able to change the threat of cruel sanctions to an opportunity for making progress, adding here I would like to express our nation's readiness to exchange experiences with the neighboring country Pakistan in areas like science, technology, transit and transportation.

Elsewhere in his remarks he said: I would like to appreciate the hospitality of the government of Pakistan as the host of this visit. He added: on behalf of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, I salute the people of Pakistan who have always defended Islam, Islamic values, the oppressed peoples of Palestine, as well as truth and justice.

The Iranian president expressed hope that the visit would be a turning point in expanding relations with Pakistan in all aspects.

Iranian Minister of Petroleum, Javad Owji, who is part of the Iranian delegation visiting Pakistan, visits Sri Lanka as the next step of his trip.