Iran, Belgium to Expand Parliamentary Cooperation

TEHRAN -- Visiting Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs louis michel in a meeting with Majlis Speaker Mahdi Karrubi here on Tuesday discussed ways of expanding mutual ties.

At the meeting, Karrubi pointed out that the Islamic Republic of Iran is interested in promoting ties with European Union (EU) member states, IRNA reported.

He said Iran and Belgium share various capacities for expansion of bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Referring to last year's visit to Iran by his Belgian counterpart as 'useful', he asked for an increase in the number of visits between top officials of the two countries.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Karrubi noted that reforms in Iran have moved swiftly, pointing out that it is part of the Islamic Revolution's aims and public desire.

Pointing to the fact that parliaments play an effective role in democratic systems, karrubi called for further promotion of mutual parliamentary cooperation, particularly at the international level.

louis michel, for his part, expressed satisfaction over his visit to Iran.

He said Brussels attaches great importance to Iran's views on regional and international issues.

He reiterated that Iran is a good trade partner for the EU, Belgium, in particular.

Both sides emphasized on the formation of parliamentary friendship groups between the two countries.

Michel invited Karrubi to pay an official visit to Belgium which the Majlis speaker accepted.