TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Vietnam on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand parliamentary cooperation, according to the ICANA news agency of the Iranian parliament.
The MoU was signed by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and visiting Chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue in a ceremony held after a meeting between the two sides in Iran's capital Tehran.
Speaking at the meeting, Qalibaf said cooperation with East Asia is one of Iran's foreign policy priorities, adding parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries can prepare the ground for strengthening bilateral ties at both regional and international levels.
He called for efforts to strengthen cultural, tourism, scientific and academic cooperation between the two countries, and promote the exchange of citizens' visits by facilitating visa issuance.
Qalibaf noted that launching a direct flight between Tehran and Hanoi and setting up a joint banking committee between the two countries can also facilitate the promotion of bilateral relations.
The Vietnamese official, for his part, hailed 50 years of relations between the two countries, saying there are no obstacles to the expansion of bilateral cooperation.
He added his country attaches great importance to Iran's significant role in the region, adding his country's market is open to Iranian goods and he is confident that the issues of money transfer between the two countries can be resolved by setting up a joint banking committee. ■
