MNA � ICT Minister Vaezi said that under equal conditions, Russia is Iran�s first choice for cooperation on new technologies such as Digital Economy and Internet of Things.

Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi made the remark in a meeting with Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media of Russia Nikolai Nikiforov in St. Petersburg Friday evening. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 21st St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) which opened on Thursday in the Russian second largest city with representatives from Iran present in the opening.

Vaezi, who also chairs meetings of Iran-Russia joint commission for cooperation, called for further expansion of economic and technological cooperation between the two countries, particularly in internet-related issues, which was welcomed by the Russian side.

Vaezi also noted the recent visit of President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov to Iran, adding �we are planning to form the second working group with Tatarstan for ICT cooperation.�

He went on to add that cooperation with Tatarstan�s oil and gas company, Tatneft, is possible, saying a memorandum of understanding has been previously signed between Tatneft and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

The Russian Minister of Communications, for his part, welcomed the proposal of holding a meeting of an ICT working group between Iran and Tatarstan, voicing support for development of cooperation in all related areas.

Nikiforov also attached great importance to closer participation of Russian companies active in the field of internet with Iran, stressing the need for boosting bilateral relations in this area.

The two sides conferred on other topics of mutual interest such as settling banking issues, search engines, communications satellites, helicopters, technology parks, student collaboration, knowledge transfer on maps and granting a more active role to the Republic of Tatarstan in meetings of joint commission for cooperation.