Xinhua - Vice-chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines and his Swiss counterpart called for broadening of economic relations, specially in the field of banking, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday.

During the meeting in the Iranian capital on Saturday, the Iranian official, Pedram Soltani, pointed to the areas of cooperation as banking, tourism, technology and pharmaceuticals, saying that to this end both sides can set up joint Iran-Switzerland council.

The two countries' private sectors should pave the way for banking relations as one of the main prerequisites for economic ties, Soltani was quoted as saying.

Describing the current Iran-Switzerland cooperation as unsatisfactory, he stressed that the two countries could collaborate to boost cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

For his part, Passalia pointed to the areas like energy, steel, and banking cooperation, and said that "Big agreements will be signed between the two countries in the foreseeable future."

In April, Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Giulio Haas voiced his country's willingness to broaden economic and trade relations with Iran.

"Switzerland is ready to expand all-out cooperation, specially in the field of economic and trade fields, with Iran," Haas said.

The Swiss envoy said that the volume of investment by Swiss businessmen in Iran has doubled in recent years.

Also he said that "During the past four years, the number of Swiss tourists, who have visited Iran, has increased from 5,000 to 15,000," he said, adding, "The two countries enjoy cordial relations in the fields of tourism industry."