TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran�s Education Minister Ali Asqar Fani in a meeting with Chairman of Russia's State Duma Committee on Education Vyacheslav Nikonov stressed the necessity for the further strengthening of relations between Tehran and Moscow.

"Relations between Iran and Russia are expanding and it is necessary that the two countries' educational bodies try to further bolster ties using their experiences and through cooperation in scientific and educational fields," Fani said during the meeting in Moscow on Wednesday.

He called for holding joint student scientific and sport competitions as a good field for cooperation between the two countries' educational institutes.

Nikonov, for his part, described development of scientific and educational cooperation with Iran as a priority in bilateral relations, and underscored Duma's support for such cooperation.

Fani arrived in Moscow on Tuesday to take part in an international exhibition on education.

According to the Iranian embassy in Moscow, the minister is also scheduled to meet Russian Minister of Science and Education Dmitri Livanov.

During his three-day stay in Moscow, the minister will also meet Vice President for Scientific Affairs Andre Fosenko to discuss cooperation in science and education.

The two sides will also consider exchange of delegations.

Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Mehdi Sanayee voiced his satisfaction in the ongoing trend of mutual cooperation between Iran and Russia.

"A bright future is waiting for the two countries' relations in the upcoming weeks," Sanayee said, addressing a conference in Moscow last Friday.

He underlined that the Iranian and Russian officials have strong determination to broaden their bilateral ties.

"Iran and Russia are developing their scientific, academic and technological relations," Sanayee added.

By Fars News Agency