During a press conference with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, Rouhani said on Friday that the two countriesare resolved not to allow extremist and terrorist groups threaten their sharedborder security.
The Iranian president said the two countries' security is intertwined and interdependent,addingthat more effortsare needed to boostsecurity alongIrans eastern borders and Pakistans western borders.
He added thatthe two countries are "close to each other culturally," and must,therefore, alsofocus on cultural cooperation.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attends a joint press conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (unseen), Islamabad, Pakistan, March 25, 2016.[/caption]Rouhani said issues of mutual interest,the economic sector and potentialities that exist for the development of economic relations, including in the energy issue, gas as well as electricity exports were discussedduring the meeting with the Pakistani premier.
The two countries also held talks for the expansion of trade cooperation in light of the facilitation ofregulations like preferential trade tariffs by pavingthe ground for free trade between the two countries, he added.
Establishing new border markets and forging closer relations between the two important Iranian and Pakistaniports of Chabahar and Gwadar was also discussed during the meeting, Rouhani said.
Also during thepress conference, Sharif pointed to the cordial and fraternal ties between the two countries, adding that the latest meeting was the third in less than three years, reflecting the warmth and depth of bilateral relations.
He said regional and mutual ties were discussed during talks with Rouhani, adding that the two presidents expressed resolve to develop ties in various fields and signed several memorandums of understanding in many sectors.
Rouhani and Sharif held one-on-one talks at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad on Friday.
Immediately after the meeting between Rouhani and Sharif, high-ranking Iranian and Pakistani delegations started talks. At the end of theround of talks, the sides sign six documents for cooperation in different fields of trade and commerce, insurance, culture, academy, health and medicine.
The Iranian presidentarrived in Pakistanon Friday on his first landmark visit since the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group of six countries.
Rouhani is heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, including 60 Iranian businessmen, duringhis two-day official visit to Islamabad.
The trip is aimed at discussing ways to further strengthen trade and economic relations and holding consultation with senior Pakistani officials on the latest developments in the region.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure for Islamabad, President Rouhani said Irans relations with Pakistan, with its great people and religious, historical and cultural commonalities, arestrategic and important.
The Pakistani prime minister visitedTehran on January 19.
By Press TV
