TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Marzieh Afkham underlined that Iran will facilitate investments by Malaysian investors.

"Iranian government has focused on encouraging joint venture investment with foreign partners," Afkham said on Tuesday.

The Iranian ambassador said that the Malaysian investors can benefit a lot from investment in Iran as the country is the second largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa.

She said that Iran has new programs on its agenda for foreign investors, specially the Malaysian businessmen, in the post-sanctions era.

In a relevant development last week, Iranian Supreme Leader's top adviser for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati underlined that Kuala Lumpur is willing to broaden its cooperation with Tehran in different fields.

"Despite the ups and downs in bilateral relations, Malaysian officials have shown much interest to broaden their ties with Iran," Velayati said after his five-day visit to Malaysia.

He pointed to Malaysia as Iran's reliable partner, and said, "Malaysia has always played a significant role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and will continue to do so; any country that aims to have relations with ASEAN, has to pay attention to Malaysia's strategic and coordinating role in the association."

Velayati also referred to Iran as a gate to Western Asia, and said, "It is important for Malaysia to develop its relations with Iran."

Iran and Malaysia share cultural and social affinities. Their bilateral trade relations are also on the rise, with both cooperating on many regional and international fronts.

They are permanent members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement and have used these forums and bilateral relations to develop more cordial and closer political ties.

In early March, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman in a meeting in Jakarta discussed bilateral relations as well as the latest developments in the Middle East.

During the meeting on the sidelines of the OIC Summit on Palestine and the situation in the holy city of al-Qods, Zarif and Aman explored avenues for bolstering mutual cooperation in economy and trade.

The foreign ministers also discussed current affairs in the Muslim world.

By Fars News Agency