TEHRAN, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi welcomed further improvement of relations and exchanges between his country and Pakistan, said a statement published on the Iranian presidency's website on Tuesday.
Raisi made the remarks in a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late Monday congratulating him on his election as Pakistan's prime minister for a second term.
Raisi said the relations between Iran and Pakistan rely on deep historical and cultural bonds and commonalities, and "Iran welcomes the improvement of the level of bilateral, regional and international interactions and relations with the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan."
Sharif, for his part, thanked Raisi for extending congratulations, saying he hoped that bilateral relations would further improve in light of the determination of the two countries' leaders as well as joint efforts by their governments' officials.
He expressed confidence that the two countries, relying on the deep bonds of friendship between their peoples, could take effective steps to use their diverse existing capacities to safeguard common interests. ■
