Iranian president confers with Saudi industry minister

Iranian President Muhammad Khatami on Wednesday evening received Saudi Minister of Industry and Electricity Hashem Abdullah al-Yamani, currently visiting Iran.

Talks dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries and means of developing and diversifying them in various areas. President Khatami underlined the importance of the key role played by the Islamic states in the past and present of human civilization. He added, "Muslims should occupy their due role in the international arena."

The Iranian president stressed concerning relations with Saudi Arabia: "We should strengthen our religious, cultural and historical relations through expanding our relations also in the economic and trade fields."

The Iranian president added that the region is badly in need, more than at any time before, of security, saying that relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be a guarantee for the region's security. For his part, the Saudi minister stressed the desire of his country's officials to develop bilateral relations to serve common objectives.

Al-Yamani noted the prospects for developing economic relations between the two countries. He described the joint investments in bilateral economic and industrial projects as useful.