MNA � Iran�s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas�Akhoundi and Russia�s Minister of Energy Alexander Novak conferred on expansion of economic and energy cooperation on Fri. in Moscow.


During the Friday meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the prospect for bilateral cooperation in various fields within the framework of OPEC and the Gas Exporting Countries�Forum (GECF).

The Russian minister of energy noted the upcoming visit of President Vladimir Putin to Iran on Wednesday, adding �the two countries� transport cooperation is progressing well. The electrification of Garmsar to Inche Burun route is one of priority projects of the two sides� cooperation.�

Akhoundi, for his part, hailed the measures taken for Iran and Russia�s operational projects in recent years, adding �the railway section is one of the most important areas of cooperation between Iran and Russia, particularly in regards to freight wagons.�

The Iranian minister of roads and urban development, who has been in Moscow since Thursday, also held talks with ministers of the North Caucasus, Construction,�Housing�and Utilities of the�Russian�Federation, as well as president of Russian Railways Oleg Belozyorov.

During his meeting with Minister of Construction,�Housing�and Utilities Mikhail Men, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on housing cooperation.