By IRNA,
Tehran : President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Special Envoy to Egypt Mohammad-Reza Baqeri held talks with Head of the African Union Commission Jean Ping and conveyed president’s message to the African official.
According to the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baqeri and Ping discussed issues of mutual interests in the meeting.
Baqeri, who is also deputy foreign minister for African affairs, is in Sharm al-Sheikh to take part in a meeting of heads of states and foreign ministers of the African Union.
He expressed Iran’s readiness for expansion of ties and cooperation with African, adding that Iran is prepared to hold a joint Iran-Africa conference in the future.
The head of AU Commission, for his part, referred to his personal interest in the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly as he was in charge of oil and foreign ministries in Gabon and paid numerous visits to Tehran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a symbol of independence and self-sufficiency,” he underlined.
Ping also went on to say that most African countries call for cooperation with the Islamic country.
Expressing readiness for utilization of precious experiences of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he noted that the ground for cooperation between Iran and the African Union is prepared.