Iran, New Zealand sign deal on agricultural co-op

Iran and New Zealand signed a deal to boost agricultural cooperation, IRNA news agency reported May 21.

The document was signed by Iranian Agricultural Minister Mahmoud Hojjati and visiting Foreign Minister of New Zealand Murray McCully in Tehran.

Under the signed document the two sides will support exchanges between farmers and producers and mutual investments in order to access to target markets in various agricultural products.

On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Hojjati said that the two countries can cooperate in the fields of education, research and science as well as application of new agricultural technologies.

The top New Zealander diplomat arrived in Tehran May 21 to discuss a range of Middle East regional security issues and trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Earlier the day he met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Zarif, McCully said he has made the trip to Iran due to his commitment to boosting the relations between the two countries.

He further expressed the hope that through political and economic negotiations, new opportunities would be provided for the two countries to strengthen Tehran-Wellington ties.