Venezuelan president visits Iran for boosting cooperation

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Tehran late Saturday for a two-day visit which officials said was aimed at boosting political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

This is Chavez's third visit to Iran since Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad took office in 2005.

Chavez was greeted at the airport by Iranian Minister of Industries and Mines Ali-Reza Tahmasbi, Iranian television reported.

Chavez's visit was aimed to boost their "cooperation in economic, industrial and political fields," Venezuelan Ambassador to Iran Arturo Anibal Gallegos Ramiraz told Iran's official IRNA news agency.

The exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries proved that their bilateral ties" are at the best possible level," he said.

During Chavez's visit, he is expected to hold talks with Iranian officials on international, regional and bilateral issues, local media reported.

He is also expected to visit Iran's South Pars gas field in Asaluyeh and address Tehran's Science and Industry University.

Source: Xinhua