Tehran, March 8, IRNA Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani left South African capital city, Cape Town, for Congo?s capital city, Brazzaville at the end of his South African visit.The Parliament News Agency, Khane-ye Mellat (Nation?s House) reported Friday night that the Larijani left Cape Town after holding parliamentary and political, and economic talks with the South African president, parliament speaker, head of provincial council, and other officials, aimed at expansion of Iran?s relations with the African countries.
The top South African officials in the meetings referred to the high potentials for comprehensive cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Larijani had on Saturday night attended the largest mosque of Cape Town, Al Qods Mosque, for the evening prayer, after which in an address for the worshipers he stressed the need for unity and solidarity among world Muslims aimed at dismantling the plots hatched among them by the enemies and the notorious acts.
The Iranian Parliament speaker after that attended the Cape Town?s Ahl Al-Bait (Prophet?s Holy, Infallible Household) Hossiniyeh, which is the main gathering center of the Shi?a Muslims in South Africa.
He participated in a religious ritual in the Hosseiniyeh, after which he talked with the Muslim, getting better acquainted with their concerns first hand.
Iran and South Africa are working on bolstering their already strong ties, with the countrys Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in Africa for a 5-day visit.
In his meetings with President Jacob Zuma and the South African speaker of parliament, the expansion of ties in industry, minerals and agriculture was discussed.
But a key question remained around whether South Africa would resume imports of Iranian oil, now that US-led sanctions are being relaxed. The opportunities Larijani was talking about include the exchange of know-how especially considering Irans progress in the technology and science fields.
During his discussions there, Larijani emphasized that SA and Iran are friendly nations and said that the history of these ties goes back to the days of the 1979 Iranian revolution when Iran severed all ties with the Apartheid system in this country.
The two sides also discussed a number of global issues. One of them is the current conflict in the Central African Republic. Larijani cautioned Africans to be wary of those spreading conflicts in their region. Larijanis Africa tour concludes with a visit to the Central African Republics neighbor, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
By IRNA
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