PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday met his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in Tehran, with the leaders of the two nations emerging from their discussion determined to boost co-operation and overcome common adversity.
The closed-door talks began mid-morning local time and continued for more than an hour.
The meeting was initially scheduled to be held on Sunday, a day after President Mugabe joined other world leaders and/or their representatives from at least 100 countries to witness Mr Rouhani’s inauguration for a second term as Iran’s president.
President Mugabe was accompanied to Iran by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba and other senior Government officials.
The anticipation ahead of yesterday’s engagement was that Zimbabwe and Iran would discuss how best to advance the already strong political and cultural ties between the two countries so that they extended more fully into the realm of the economy.
And after yesterday’s meeting, it appeared this deepening of relations was well on track, with Minister Mumbengegwi telling the media the chemistry between the two leaders boded well for their common agenda.
He said, “The area of energy, for example, was one area which they discussed. They also looked at the issue of pharmaceuticals. Iran has a very highly developed pharmaceutical industry and they discussed co-operation in that area.
He said discussions also dwelt on agricultural co-operation, and that the Zimbabwe-Iran Joint Commission could meet this year to “rejuvenate and resuscitate” existing agreements, “as well as look at new areas of co-operation”.
Minister Mumbengegwi said President Mugabe had invited his Iranian counterpart to visit Zimbabwe, and they were confident that the invitation would get a favourable response.
Four Iranian leaders have visited Zimbabwe over the past three decades, and this is President Mugabe’s fifth visit to the Middle Eastern oil and gas giant.
The ties between the two peoples date back to 13th century trade in ivory and gold. herald
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