March 7, The Iran Project - Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Masoud Karbasian, heading a 75-member delegation, arrived in Moscow on Sunday (March 4) to attend the 14th Iran-Russian Joint Economic Commission meeting.

Karbasian's stay in Russia witnesses meetings with Abdul Latif, especial advisor of the Russian President, Igor Shuvalov the Russian First Deputy Prime Minister and participation in  the event.

Implementation of the agreements related to financing infrastructural plans and the latest outcomes of Caspian Sea joint committee were among topics discussed by Karbasian and Latif.

Meanwhile, Shuvalov told Karbasian that Russia is seriously after developing bilateral relations with Iran.

“Finalizing the cooperation and trade agreements, reached at the 14th Joint Economic Commission, between Iran and Russia, is a big step in our view, and we re-affirm Moscow's readiness to expand ties with Tehran,” said Shuvalov.

Karbaisian, for his part, pointed out that the 12th administration has very recently got into office and reassured the Russian part that Iran will continue following its agreements with Russia based on a four-year partnership.

"We believe that the joint economic commission of the two countries is held at significant time,” the Iranian minister added.

In a meantime, the final document of the 14th Iran-Russia joint economic commission’s meeting was signed Tuesday (March 6) by Iranian and Russian ministers of economy in Moscow.

The document, signed by Iranian Minister of Economy and Financial Affairs Masoud Karbasian and Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Oreshkin, comprises as many as 14 memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the fields of electricity, nuclear energy, transportation, industry, trade, customs, and banking transactions.

Accordingly, a MoU was signed between the working groups of the Russian Ministry of Energy and the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum for cooperation on the India-Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, an MoU on geology cooperation, an MoU on financing and investment in Iran’s mines and industries, as well as an MoU on joint research and development on underground resources and Caspian seabed.

The two sides also inked an agreement on joint investment in thermal power plans, a MoU on cultural cooperation, transportation, as well as a trilateral agreement between Iran, Russia and Kazakhstan on transit and wheat swap.