Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced on Monday that the value of trade between Iran and Turkey will reach $30 billion during Iranian calendar year 1390, which begins on March 21.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks during a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a four-day official visit, accompanied by a large delegation of ministers and businessmen.

“The value of trade exchanges between the two countries surpassed 10 billion dollars last year and we are determined to increase it to 30 billion dollars through comprehensive cooperation,” Ahmadinejad stated.

He added, “Tehran-Ankara cooperation, together with the promotion of regional cooperation, will turn the region into a great cultural, political, and economic hub.”

Turkey keen to increase cooperation with Iran

The Turkish president expressed satisfaction over his visit to Tehran, adding that Ankara is determined to expand cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In a meeting with the Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimiin the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Monday, Abdullah Gul noted Iran’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Turkey in all fields.

Rahimiin urged Iranian and Turkish officials to remove obstacles in the way of upgrading mutual ties.

“Economic relations between Tehran and Ankara showed an 85 percent increase last year, which is an indication of fundamental developments in trade and economic cooperation between the two sides,” he further explained.

The Iranian official also noted that enhanced cooperation between the two neighboring countries in customs and transit sectors could affect the entire region and promote trade and commercial ties among regional countries.

The Turkish president, for his part, said Iran and Turkey are two leading and strong countries in the region and expressed his country’s readiness to expand ties with the Islamic Republic.

Gul also said that he discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and the Islamic world with the Iranian president.

Commenting on developments in the region, Gul said that the governments of Islamic countries must take the demands of their people into consideration.

“When countries’ leaders do not pay attention to the demands of their people, the people themselves will take action to realize their demands,” he said.

The two presidents also held a meeting before the press conference.