Pakistan and Iran have expressed resolve to expand their bilateral cooperation and build a comprehensive and strategic relationship in all fields.

This was stated by Advisor to Pakistan prime minister on Finance Salman Shah and Iranian Foreign Minister Manocher Mottaqi in their separate statements at the opening of the 16th Pak-Iran Joint Economic Commission (JEC) here on Wednesday.

Shah in a statement said that both the countries have great potential to expand their cooperation in various fields but it has not been realized so far.

He said it was agreed in the last JEC meeting that both the countries would enhance their trade up to one billion U.S. dollars annually but they were far away from their target and could earn only 400 million dollars trade during this year.

The Iranian foreign minister who is also co-Chairperson of the current JEC stressed the need for laying solid foundations of expanding relations between the two countries.

He said that trade between the two countries could be enhanced manifold by taking various measures including avoidance of double taxation and tariff reduction besides controlling smuggling and enhancing security cooperation.

Source: Xinhua