Iran and Pakistan decided on Monday to increase the trade volume between the two countries to $10 billion, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, saying that the existing volume was \u201cnot acceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Iranian president arrived in Pakistan for a three-day official visit, the first of its type by any head of state since the general elections on February 8. Raisi made the comments at a joint address with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the two met in Islamabad.<\/p>\n
Raisi said: \u201cWe are committed to strengthening relations at high levels. [\u2026] Economic and trade volume between Iran and Pakistan is not acceptable. We have decided as a first step to increase trade volume between our two countries to $10bn.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the concurrent press conference, Prime Minister Shehbaz urged preserving Iran-Pakistan relations in spite of obstacles, saying, “We have to keep this relationship strong despite the challenges we both face.”<\/p>\n
The prime minister claimed that during their meeting, the two leaders had in-depth conversations about “religious, cultural, diplomatic, investment, and security matters.”<\/p>\n
The prime minister predicted that Iran would advance under Raisi’s direction, referring to him as an \u201cocean of political intelligence and wisdom\u201d.<\/p>\n
The prime minister expressed optimism that trade and business might flourish along the shared border, saying, “Pakistan and Iran can prosper and our borders can see progress.”<\/p>\n
PM Shehbaz said that he hoped the neighbors’ connection would be “firm and stable,” saying that they had a chance to “make this friendship a happy and prosperous one” today.<\/p>\n
The prime minister also said in Farsi: \u201cOur eyes cooled down, heart became joyful after seeing you.\u201d He also recited a verse by Persian poet Mohammad-Taqi Bahar.<\/p>\n