Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi (L) and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 12, 2023 (Photo by president.ir)

Caracas, June 12 (RHC)-- Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says a new world order is being formed in favor of freedom-seeking, independent countries, stressing that resistance against the arrogant powers has led to significant achievements.

Raeisi, who is on an official visit to Venezuela on the first leg of a three-nation trip to Latin America, made the remarks at a joint meeting of the high-ranking delegations of Iran and Venezuela on Monday afternoon local time.  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was also present at the meeting.

The Iranian president said Tehran and Caracas have managed to improve “strategic” relations in recent years, but they should swiftly implement the previously signed agreements to upgrade ties to higher levels given diverse mutual capacities.

He added that Iran has capabilities in the field of exporting technical-engineering services and processing agricultural and mineral products.

“The Iranian nation has gained valuable experience and achievements in the field of science and technology thanks to its resistance against the arrogant system and [success to] overcome the sanctions,” Raeisi said, expressing Tehran’s readiness to share them with Venezuela.

Iran and Venezuela are determined to increase their trade volume to $10 billion in the medium term and further increase them to $20 dollars, he added.

Speaking at a joint press conference earlier in the day, the Iranian and Venezuelan presidents announced their decision to increase the volume of bilateral trade to $20 billion.

The press conference was preceded by an official ceremony during which the two countries’ ministers and other top officials signed a total of 19 cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding.

The Iranian president stressed the importance of further activating the shipping lines between the two countries and called for strengthening cooperation in the industrial, mining, energy, monetary and banking sectors.

The Venezuelan president, for his part, pointed to Caracas’s strategic relations with Tehran and said Venezuela is firmly determined to start a new round of bids aimed at expanding relations with Iran.

Maduro added that Iran and Venezuela have made efforts to reduce their dependence on oil revenues and increase the resistance of their economies against foreign upheaval and pressure.

In the new world that is being formed, imperialism is collapsing and the countries that have resisted the excessive demands of the arrogant powers are on the verge of victory, he emphasized.

The Venezuelan leader stressed the necessity of establishing a direct air line between the two countries and strengthening shipping lines to increase bilateral trade.

He noted that Tehran and Caracas have also appropriate capacities for cooperation in the fields of tourism, agriculture and animal husbandry.

Strong economy, most effective way to counter sanctions: Raeisi

Speaking in a joint meeting of Iranian and Venezuela tradesmen, Raeisi said becoming stronger in the economic sector would be the most effective way to counter sanctions.

He added that the Iranian youths have succeeded in turning sanctions into opportunities by making use of the capabilities of the knowledge-based companies and maintaining peace and stability in the country against the upheavals.

He noted that Tehran and Caracas have enormous capacities to increase economic exchanges which have not been used yet.

The Iranian president emphasized that Tehran and Caracas can reach the 20-billion-dollar target through investment.

The two sides agreed to remove customs, banking and tariff barriers in order to facilitate and accelerate economic exchanges, he noted.

Raeisi said Iranian ambassadors, commercial offices, the house of science and technology and all active sectors in the fields of industry, mines and banking affairs must work to facilitate mutual trade ties.

A high-ranking delegation comprised of ministers of foreign affairs, oil, defense, and health is accompanying Raeisi on the five-day tour, which will also take him to Nicaragua and Cuba.

Iran has close ties with many Latin American states in different domains and seeks to further deepen its relations with those nations.

Back in February, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made an official visit to two Latin American countries of Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Last June, Iran and Venezuela signed a 20-year partnership agreement aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation in various fields during Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s visit to Tehran.

The partnership agreement includes cooperation in the fields of science, technology, agriculture, oil and gas, petrochemicals, tourism and culture.