Iranian president praises cooperation with Saudi Arabia

Iranian President Muhammad Khatami has called for Saudi-Iranian cooperation in order to "give a bright picture about Islam to the world."

He added that consolidating relations between his country and Saudi Arabia in all fields especially in cultural and intellectual fields "may help in meeting the urgent need of the world for an open Islam." This was expressed on Tuesday upon the Iranian president's meeting with the chairman of the Saudi Shoura council, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Jubeir.

Khatami noted the "development, progress and cooperation" in Saudi - Iranian relations, calling for "strengthening items of building mutual confidence and respect between the two sides."

The chairman of the Saudi Shoura council praised "cooperation between the two greatest countries in the Islamic world." He indicated the desire of the Saudi leadership to "foster ties between the two countries for bilateral interests and the welfare of the Arab and Islamic nations."