KUALA LUMPUR -- Visiting Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mostafa Moin here on Thursday held separate meetings with officials in charge of Malaysian 'Malaya' and 'National' universities.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed exchange of university professors for conducting joint research programs between the two countries.

Elaborating on the activities of Iranian universities activities, Moin said that the total population has doubled since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 while the number of university students increased five-fold so far.

"The Islamic Republic has arranged 30 joint courses at Ph.D level with foreign universities," he said, noting that the research articles presented by Iranian universities to domestic and foreign magazines in the last five years increased by 600 percent.

The Malaysian officials, in response, gave a report of activities of their universities, IRNA said.

Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mostafa Moin arrived here Tuesday night for a four-day official visit accompanied by a delegation.

The minister's visit is taking place at the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart.

During Moin's stay in this Malaysian capital, the two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in various areas in the scientific field.