Heading a high-ranking economic delegation, Iran's Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, becoming the first Iranian official to visit the Arab kingdom following a China-brokered reconciliation agreement between Tehran and Riyadh.







Upon his arrival at Jeddah Airport,�Khandouzi was welcomed by Saudi officials,�Islamic Development Bank managers, and members of the Iranian Consulate General in the city.

Bilateral meetings with Saudi officials and delivering a speech at the conferences of the Islamic Development Bank are among the most important programs on his trip schedule.

Khandouzi said last month that Tehran aimed�to raise its annual trade with Riyadh to $1 billion in the first step of resuming economic ties.

This is the first visit by an Iranian official to Saudi Arabia�after earlier this year's agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia on the restoration of diplomatic ties.

On March 10, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic ties seven years after they severed relations. According to the agreement, the two sides committed to reopening embassies in Tehran and Riyadh by May.

The landmark agreement, mediated by China, also included the implementation of a security cooperation agreement signed in 2001 and a 1998 pact to boost bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, technology, and culture.

On April 6, the foreign ministers of both countries met in Beijing and issued a joint statement, expressing readiness to remove all impediments to the expansion of bilateral ties.