TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday he is scheduled to visit Lebanon on Thursday to expand bilateral relations, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
"We seek to expand ties, and the other side has the same motivations," Araghchi said, adding that an economic delegation would accompany him on the visit.
In December, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said he had declined an invitation from Araghchi to visit Tehran, proposing instead that a meeting be held in a mutually agreed neutral third country.
In his written reply, Rajji stressed that his decision did not mean a refusal to engage in dialogue, and expressed Lebanon's readiness to establish a new phase of constructive relations with Iran, based on mutual respect for each country's independence and sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs. He also said Araghchi would always be welcome to visit Lebanon. ■
