TEHRAN Chairman of Vietnamese National Assembly Nong Duc Manh here on Monday handed over a message from President Tran Duc Luong to President Mohammad Khatami. In the meeting, President Khatami called the struggle of the Vietnamese nation as the contemporary human epic. He said Iran appreciates the endeavors of the Vietnamese government and nation to move toward progress and attain their outstanding status at international arena after gaining independence.

The president said that the revolutionary nation of Iran under its independence has taken steps forward and can have very good cooperation with the Vietnamese nation on the basis of mutual interests. Describing the current relations between the two countries as excellent, President Khatami said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to broaden cooperation with Vietnam mainly in economic, commercial, technical and scientific fields.

The president also underlined the determination of Iran and Vietnam to put into practice the agreements already reached between the two states. President Khatami appreciated the invitation extended to him by his Vietnamese counterpart to visit Vietnam and expressed hope to visit the country in an appropriate time and in return invited President Duc Luong to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran. Manh said that the government and nation of Vietnam hold the Iranian government and nation in high reverence.

``Vietnam believes that expansion of relations with Iran would not only benefit the two sides but also would serve the peace and stability in the region,'' he said. ``Vietnam's policy is based on expansion of friendly relations with the neighboring countries as well as the developing nations and the Islamic Republic of Iran in particular,'' he said Nong Duc Manh said he had held positive meetings with high ranking Iranian officials and praised the effective role of Iran in the region, the regional and international organizations mainly at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Meanwhile, in a meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, Manh termed Tehran-Hanoi ties friendly and called for further expansion of bilateral relations in all fields.

Underlining Iran's ancient civilization and strategic position in the region, the Vietnamese parliamentarian said his country attaches special importance to ties with Iran. He expressed satisfaction over ``strong'' Tehran-Hanoi cooperation in political field at international fora, hoping that further cooperation will be experienced in other fields, including in economic areas. Pointing to the existing common bonds between the two countries, Kharrazi voiced Iran's readiness for promotion of relations with Vietnam, especially in the economic sector.

He said that common characteristics such as seeking peace and independence, and struggle for freedom have paved the way for the two countries to adopt a common stance at international scenes. Kharrazi said that given Iran's satisfactory relations with Central Asian republics and its access to those states through land and sea, Vietnam can benefit from such an opportunity to reach markets in Central Asia. He also termed parliamentary cooperation between Iran and Vietnam as highly fruitful and said such cooperation can speed up trend of promotion of bilateral ties in other areas.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with the Iranian Foreign minister, Kamal Kharrazi, Manh termed Tehran-Hanoi ties friendly and called for further expansion of bilateral relations in all fields. Underlining Iran's ancient civilization and strategic position in the region, the Vietnamese parliamentarian said his country attaches special importance to ties with Iran. He expressed satisfaction over ``strong'' Tehran-Hanoi cooperation in political field at international fora, hoping that further cooperation will be experienced in other fields, including in economic areas.

Pointing to the existing common bonds between the two countries, Kharrazi voiced Iran's readiness for promotion of relations with Vietnam, especially in the economic sector. He said that common characteristics such as seeking peace and independence, and struggle for freedom have paved the way for the two countries to adopt a common stance at international scenes. Kharrazi said that given Iran's satisfactory relations with Central Asian republics and its access to those states through land and sea, Vietnam can benefit from such an opportunity to reach markets in Central Asia. He also termed parliamentary cooperation between Iran and Vietnam as highly fruitful and said such cooperation can speed up trend of promotion of bilateral ties in other areas.

(IRNA)