ASTANA, Kazakhstan - The Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani who is on a tour of Kazakhstan suggested that reciprocal laws be drawn up by the two countries to ease joint investment especially as economic and political cooperation between the two sides is on the rise.

In a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Ural Muhamedjanov, Larijani said Iran has great potential in the fields of oil, gas, power plants, transportation, mines, agriculture and animal husbandry, the Mehr News Agency correspondent who is accompanying Larijani reported.
Iranian companies are currently building silos in Kazakhstan and I hope such cooperation expands in the future, he said.
Larijani went on to say that friendship delegations and specialized commissions of the two countries’ parliaments could work closer with one another.
Larijani also told Kazakh Senate Chairman Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev that a joint committee has been formed to pave the way for further cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the areas of oil, gas, and agriculture.
Kazakhstan seeks access to Iran’s southern ports
In another meeting, Larijani conferred with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, during which the prime minister said his country intends to get access to Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
Nuclear rights
Larijani also held talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Monday in which he said certain countries seek to deprive other nations of their right to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Nazarbayev also said his country supports Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear activities.
Conformity with intl. law only way for West
Talking in a press conference, Larijani said the only solution to the nuclear row is for the West to abide by the international law.
Larijani also thanked Kazakhstan for its stance regarding the nuclear dispute.
Tehran-Astana ties would help regional stability
In his meeting with Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, the Senate chairman, Larijani said close ties between Iran and Kazakhstan would help promote stability in Central Asia.
Tokayev, for his part, praised the Islamic Republic for its stance toward international issues, and emphasized Iran’s influential role in cooperation among Asian countries.
Caspian Sea legal regime must be determined soon
Talking to reporters in a joint press conference with Tokayev, Larijani said the Caspian Sea littoral states, including Kazakhstan, must make attempts to reach a consensus over the sea’s legal regime.
The prolonged negotiations have not led to draft of the Caspian Sea legal regime yet, Larijani regretted.
Tokayev also said he sees bright prospect for relations between the two countries.