Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein AmirAbdollahian has conferred with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on developing economic and commercial ties and emphasized the need for strengthening border ties between the two neighboring countries.

Amir-Abdollahian met and held talks with Sharif after holding a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed expanding economic and trade relations, as well as strengthening border interactions.

They also called for boosting cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in order to maintain regional peace and security.

Amir-Abdollahian is set to hold meetings with other Pakistani officials including the Pakistani Chairman of the Senate and the Pakistani Army Commander.

Upon his arrival in the capital Islamabad on Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister said he hoped the visit would open “a new chapter” in relations between the neighboring countries.

Amirabdollahian and his accompanying delegation were accorded an official welcome at the Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam late on Wednesday.

Earlier, Mehdi Safari, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy, led an economic and trade delegation to Islamabad for talks with Pakistan about enhancing bilateral economic cooperation.