Iran, Bolivia vow to stand up to imperialism

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-03 11:03

TEHRAN -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and visiting Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday vowed to stand up to any form of imperialism, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Bolivian President Evo Morales (L) shakes hands with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during an official welcoming ceremony in Tehran September 1, 2008. [Agencies]

"Despite our geographical distance, Iran and Bolivia are close. The two nations share similar outlooks," Ahmadinejad said in a joint press conference with his Bolivian counterpart.

According to IRNA, Iran and Bolivia issued a statement after a meeting of Ahmadinejad and Morales on Tuesday, declaring that their talks were positive and carried out in the "air full of brotherly spirit."

Iran and Bolivia announced their disinterest in the US government's concerns about their close ties in the statement, saying that they stand by each other and will push forward their joint interests and economic projects.

Morales, for his part, supported Iran's nonpermanent membership of UN Security Council during 2009-2010. He thanked his Iranian counterpart and Iranian people for showing hospitality to him.

Bolivian President Evo Morales was officially seen off by his Iranian counterpart President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday evening.

The Bolivian president arrived in Tehran on Monday at the head of a high-ranking delegation to discuss issues of mutual interest with senior Iranian officials.

In a meeting with Bolivian special envoy to Tehran in June, Ahmadinejad said that Tehran welcomes expansion of the all-out relations with Bolivia.

Morales' visit to Tehran came after Ahmadinejad's visit to Bolivia last year, during which Iran and Bolivia signed several cooperation agreements in areas such as oil and gas industries.

Iran is the world's fourth largest oil producer and also sits on the world's second biggest reserves of gas.