Iran, Venezuela sign cooperation accords to boost bilateral ties

Venezuelan and Iranian officials signed on Sunday in Caracas a series of cooperation accords to boost bilateral ties.

The 29 cooperation accords, including agreements for Iran to help Venezuela develop an oil field, restore a shipyard and build factories to produce petrochemicals, cement, gunpowder, small aircraft and cars, were inked during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the Latin American country.

Ahmadinejad arrived in Caracas on Sunday for a first-ever two-day visit after attending the 14th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Havana.

While meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, Ahmadinejad said, "We have thoughts, objectives and interests in common. We must be united to be able to make these ideas a reality with the aim of achieving justice and peace."

Chavez said Iran and Venezuela were "two heroic nations" with "two revolutions that are giving each other a hand," comparing his socialist movement to Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The two presidents will visit an oil field on Monday for a ceremony marking the start of joint drilling.

Source: Xinhua