MNA � Iran�s Mohammad Farhadi has visited Italy�s Stefania Giannini Minister of Education, Universities and Research in attempts to broaden cooperation between universities of both countries.

Mr. Farhadi�s entourage was received by Mrs. Giannini on Tuesday in the ministry venue in Rome. They discussed possibilities of implementation of a science and technology accord signed in last April in Tehran.

Mr. Farhadi told Iran�s state news agency IRNA after the meeting that a joint commission would address and watch over the implementation of the accord; �an article of the accord allows Iranian PhD students to seek 6- and 9-month fellowships in Italian universities; it also defines joint research projects, some of which have been completed and some others are on agenda,� he told IRNA.

�An Italian delegation would visit Tehran in upcoming months, where we agreed to provide workshops in art, archaeology, and architecture; a joint fund would also finance tech companies and Science and Technology Parks in both countries,� said the minister.

Mrs. Giannini who was hosting the meeting, voiced his fellow country�s strong resolve to extend ties with Tehran especially in university matters which encompassed among others, �physics and medicine and diverse field as restoration works on historical monuments.�

Mr. Farhadi and the delegation will also visit Sapienza University of Rome, Bologna University, and Ca� Foscari University of Venice in north of the country.