Tasnim � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomed China and Greece�s initiative to hold Ancient Civilizations Forum, stressing the need for talks among these states for boosting global cooperation.





�The international community needs dialogue among countries with ancient civilization,� Zarif said in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Athens on Sunday.

�Talks among countries is very important for boosting cooperation, including in countering terrorism the international community is grappling with,� Zarif added.

The Chinese foreign minister, for his part, pointed to the background of Iran and China�s civilization, saying due to their background, the two countries are necessary to find proper resolution to the existing problems in the human society and the forum in Greece could be a good solution to that end.

The two sides also conferred on the latest bilateral, regional and international issues.

The senior Iranian diplomat arrived in Athens on Sunday morning to attend the forum, attended by representatives from nine other nations, known as descendants of the world�s ancient civilizations.

Officials from Greece, China, India, Iraq, Egypt, Italy, Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia have taken part in the two-day conference.

According to Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, the purpose of the conference is to give the Ancient Civilizations Forum �an institutional character and open it up to more countries.�