TEHRAN (FNA)- South African President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to arrive in Tehran on April 23 to discuss the strengthening of mutual cooperation in different areas.

President Zuma, heading a high-ranking delegation, will visit Iran at the invitation of President Hassan Rouhani.

The two presidents are planned to discuss bilateral ties and sign several economic and trade documents by the two countries' delegations.

In a relevant development in November, President Rouhani in a meeting with South African Vice-President Cyril Ramaphosa in Tehran underlined the need for the expansion of Tehran-Pretoria relations.

"Iran has always welcomed broadening of mutual cooperation with South Africa in all areas of mutual interest," President Rouhani said.

The Iranian president reiterated that boosting cooperation with African states tops Iran's foreign policy agenda, and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always regarded South Africa as a friendly state and it has supported that country's revolutionary and independent stances."

President Rouhani reiterated that everything is ready for the expansion of economic and trade relations and cooperation in the industrial, mining and agricultural fields and in new technologies between the two countries, and stressed that the present opportunity should be taken in the best possible manner.

"We should be able to further expand Iran-South Africa relations in light of the new opportunities created after the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the six world powers (the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany) in Vienna on July 14 and the removal of sanction."

The Iranian president said that Iran has a unique strategic position in the region, and reminded that "Iran's Southern coasts and ports can link the Central Asia and even Eastern Europe to South Africa".

President Rouhani also underlined the need for further cooperation between Iran and South Africa in campaign against terrorism as a global threat, and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is serious in the fight against violence and extremism in the world and it believes that all countries should cooperate in this field."

The South African vice-president, for his part, pointed to his country's friendly relations and Tehran's supports for the South African nation's campaign during the era of the apartheid, and said, "The South African nation will never forget Iran's stances and supports during the campaign against apartheid."

Ramaphosa, meantime, called for boosting the volume of trade exchanges between South Africa and Iran.

By Fars News Agency