Islam Times - Ahmadinejad, Singh discuss bilateral ties, regional developments

Islam Times - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran.

During a meeting on Wednesday, the two leaders highlighted the significance of the gathering as a unique opportunity to discuss ways of countering political unilateralism and protect countries against foreign aggression.

Iran’s president lauded the growing economic, scientific, and cultural relations between the two countries, and called for a trading system based on the two countries’ national currencies.

Ahmadinejad also described India as an important stabilizing power in the region.

“India’s cooperation is a major factor in restructuring and creating new opportunities for the Non-Aligned Movement and its accomplishments,” he stated.

The two heads of state also discussed the foreign-fueled unrest in Syria, stressing the importance of resolving the crisis through diplomatic means.

The two-day ministerial meeting of the 16th Summit of the NAM wrapped up on Wednesday evening in the Iranian capital.

More than 100 countries are partaking in the NAM meeting which kicked off at the expert level in Tehran on Sunday.