ATHENS - Officials from Egypt and Iran are holding talks to facilitate resumption of air and sea transport directly between Egypt and the Islamic Republic, Egyptian weekly Al-Ahram al-Arabi yesterday reported. The semi-official Egyptian weekly, quoting unnamed Iranian sources, said the transport talks were within the framework of serious steps taken between the two countries to strengthen the pillars of bilateral cooperation.

Iran and Egypt can set an example of economic and trade cooperation because of their vast economic resources, the sources pointed out. The weekly said the recent visit of an Egyptian economic delegation to Tehran opened a new chapter of friendship and cooperation between Iran and Egypt. An Iranian economic delegation is expected to visit Cairo soon to discuss cooperation in the production of cars, yarn, petrochemicals and medicine through joint investments, said the Egyptian publication.

Iran has exported 1000 tractors to Egypt. It also owns shares in a joint yarn and textile company in Egypt and is cooperating with Egypt in the construction of five sugar factories in Iran. Officials from both countries hope that progress in economic ties would be the beginning of the normalization of political relations between the two Muslim states, added the weekly.

(IRNA)