FNA - Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Ali Asqar Mounesan voiced his country's readiness to broaden bilateral ties with the Republic of Azerbaijan in different fields, specially health tourism.

"Iran has conducted negotiations with the Azeri officials on development of mutual cooperation in field of health tourism," Mounesan said.


He underlined that many Azeri tourists visit Iran every year for medical treatments.


Mounesan also urged expansion of cooperation between Tehran and Baku in the field of eco-tourism.


In relevant remarks in late March, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined that expansion of mutual cooperation between Tehran and Baku would not be harmful to any third party state.


"I am delighted that with the extensive efforts of senior officials from both countries, we are witnessing the good results of our joint cooperation today; cooperation which benefits not only the two nations, but the whole region," President Rouhani said.


The Iranian president pointed to the North-South Transit Route, and said, "This corridor which is contributed to by both countries of Iran and Azerbaijan by putting into practice the Rasht-Astara railway project, acts as a more convenient, cheaper and shorter route for the two the countries of Iran and Azerbaijan, the countries of the region, and even for Asia, Europe and Africa."


"It means that our cooperation is in the interests of the people of the region and the whole world,� President Rouhani added.


He also referred the establishment of free trade between the two countries as a step in the direction of high mobility in economic relations between the two countries, and said, "First, we can start the free trade program with setting preferential tariff for some goods, and this move can affect the volume of trade between the two countries."