QUITO -(Dow Jones)- Ecuador President Rafael Correa will make an official visit to Iran this week to strengthen ties between both countries and bolster trade and cooperation.
During his weekly radio address over the weekend, Correa said that the expansion of economic relations would top the agenda of talks to be held with senior Iranian officials.
Correa will fly to Iran on Wednesday.
Correa said that he will go to Iran "to take the maximum benefit of our people, and what is signed will be fulfilled.
Correa added that during his visit to Iran the government will look at investments from Iran to improve the hydroelectric and oil sectors and to consolidate a commercial exchange that implies the sale of flowers, shrimp and Ecuadorian banana to the Iranian market.
Last week Correa and his and Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador met in Quito with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Lavrov said that his country would pursue negotiations with Ecuador on a trade agreement and is interested in investing in its oil, gas and energy sectors, including nuclear energy.
"Ecuador is becoming one of the most important commercial partners in the region together with Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil," Lavrov said at a press conference.
-By Mercedes Alvaro, Dow Jones Newswires; 5939-9728-653; mercedes.alvaro@dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 01, 2008 11:36 ET (16:36 GMT)

Publié le 01 Décembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones