TEHRAN -- First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Aref said here Sunday that Iran supports regional cooperation, especially cooperation within the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Aref told the outgoing ECO Secretary General Mojtaba Arastou that the ECO members should devise strategies to help the Organization raise its competitive power at the global level and enhance its international function.

He said the ECO members should pursue long-term strategy for the regional organization and give the priority to expansion of regional cooperation, IRNA reported.

He added that the ECO should benefit from experience of other organizations and the UN agencies to promote cooperation among its members in the fields of trade, transportation, energy, environment, agriculture and industry.

The Iranian official expressed hope that Asia and Africa would turn into major economic blocs in light of mutual cooperation and stronger regional cooperation through reliance on their potential, manpower and natural resources.

Arastou briefed Aref on the activities of the organization during his tenure and said ECO has managed to upgrade its position at international level. He added that support by all the members is the prerequisite for promotion of ECO.