TEHRAN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Kyrgyzstan held talks on a project to connect the rail routes of the two countries aiming at enhancing capacities of trade and economic cooperation, Tasnim news agency reported on Friday.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Kyrgyz counterpart Ruslan Kazakbaev discussed the ways to boost relations between Tehran and Bishkek, particularly economic ties by finalizing a railroad project.
Kazakbaev said his country is ready to cooperate with Iran in the construction of the railroad corridor.
Kazakbaev also proposed the launch of direct flights between Bishkek and Tehran, and expressed his country's willingness to use the Iranian southern port city of Bandar Abbas for transit cooperation.
The Kyrgyz minister highlighted the importance of trade relations and the involvement of private sectors, announcing Kyrgyzstan's readiness to facilitate the Iranian private sector's presence in the Central Asian country.
Amir Abdollahian, for his part, expressed hope that Iran's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization would increase trade volume between the two nations.
He also stressed the realization of a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the railroad.
Also, he voiced Iran's readiness to facilitate Kyrgyzstan's exports and imports through transit access to the Iranian ports.
Iranian private sector is ready to set up business centers and knowledge-based companies in Bishkek, the Iranian foreign minister added. Enditem
