The meeting took place on the sidelines of the heads of government summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber
Mikhail Mishustin and First Vice President of Iran Mohammad Mokhber
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Greetings, Mr Mokhber. I am delighted to see you again.
We met last October at the second Caspian Economic Forum in Moscow. I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to extend greetings and best wishes to President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi on behalf of President of Russia Vladimir Putin and myself.
Iran is an important partner of Russia. For decades, our countries have been linked by strong ties of friendship, neighbourliness and partnership. They are based on the principles of mutual respect and unconditional consideration of each other's interests.
In the context of the illegal sanctions that have been announced against Russia and Iran, we have been specifically focusing on strengthening our trade and economic cooperation. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded a record 350 billion roubles.
We are interested in expanding investment cooperation. We have good opportunities to implement major joint projects in energy, industry, agriculture and high technology.
I propose instructing our Permanent Russian-Iranian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to consider specific projects at its next meeting in Tehran in December. The Russian co-chair of the commission is Alexander Novak.
We place special emphasis on transport cooperation; you and I have discussed this many times. In May, presidents Vladimir Putin and Ebrahim Raisi held a videoconference during which they launched the Rasht-Astara railway line construction project in Iran as part of the international North-South transport corridor, a project co-financed by Russia.
Our task is to ensure comfortable conditions for Russian and Iranian companies to work on each other’s markets. In September, Iran was visited by a business mission led by the Russian Export Centre and with Russian companies interested in launching joint projects in agriculture, medicine, and IT.
New opportunities to expand trade and economic cooperation will open following the signing of a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran. The talks have been completed, and we expect to sign the agreement by the end of the year.
Our cooperation in tourism is also developing successfully. On August 1, Russia and Iran launched visa-free travel for tourist groups, and the first introductory tours took place in September.
Iran has been included in the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for the single electronic visa. It is intended for both business and tourist trips, as well as for participation in scientific, cultural, and sporting events. I believe that these measures will help increase tourist exchanges between Russia and Iran.
We are also working closely within multilateral formats. For the first time, Iran is participating as a full member in a meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government. We welcome you.
And, of course, I would like to especially note the importance of the decision of the BRICS heads of state to invite Iran to join the association on 1 January 2024.
I believe that our Iranian colleagues and partners’ active involvement will help increase the authority of the SCO and BRICS on the international stage.
Mr Mokhber, we have a large substantive agenda. You have the floor.
Mohammad Mokhber (via interpreter): Thank you, Mr Prime Minister, you have always made efforts to ensure that strategic relations between the two countries are at a very good, fitting level.
First of all, I would like to convey greetings and best wishes from His Excellency the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to His Excellency the President of the Russian Federation and to you personally, too.
We also congratulate you on the upcoming holiday marked on 4 November, Unity Day in the Russian Federation.
In my remarks, I cannot help but point out the tragic crimes that are currently taking place in Gaza. This troubles the soul of every person. And so I hope that tomorrow we will be able to take a step towards putting an end to these crimes and delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
I also express my gratitude for your support, especially the support of your Government, in the matter of Iran’s joining the SCO and BRICS and also signing a free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union. All these projects are aimed at advancing the interests of both our countries and stepping up cooperation between our businesses.
