REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa met with his visiting Iranian counterpart Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, here on Thursday, to discuss bilateral issues namely trade, investment and the possibility of exchanging research and technology.

"We discussed ways to enhance trade and investment relation including the possibility to establish cooperation in banking sector that will support future trade and investment between Indonesia and Iran," Minister Marty stated.

He added that Indonesia and Iran had also planned to exchange research and technology in science and other sectors. On global issues, Marty noted that he had exchanged ideas with Minister Zarif regarding the situation in Southeast Asia and the Middle East including the recent developments in Syria.

Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif assured his commitment to increase bilateral cooperation with Indonesia across various sectors namely economic, political and culture.

Last year, Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, had stated that Iran is ready to further strengthen relations with Indonesia in areas of mutual interest, after meeting Indonesian House Speaker Marzuki Alie. President Rouhani, on his official website, was quoted as saying that since Indonesia is a major Islamic country, Iran and Indonesia should try to develop deeper relations. Relations between both nations are friendly and developing, he added.

The Iranian President highlighted the positive aspects of the bilateral cooperation at the international level, including at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and NAM.

"The two countries share identical viewpoints and we should further develop bilateral economic and cultural cooperation," he informed the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives Marzuki Alie in Tehran.

Rouhani stressed the need for unity among Islamic countries, especially when some parties are seeking to create rifts within the Islamic world. Dr. Rouhani added that the two countries' Muslims should promote true Islamic culture and attempt to convince others that Muslims are not violent people or terrorists.

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