Dubai: India and Iran inked an agreement expressing commitment to promote scientific and technological co-operation between the two countries.

The agreement was signed by the Science and Technology Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Iranian Minister for Science, Research and Technology Dr Mostafa Moin in Tehran on November 9, the official Iranian news agency IRNA said.

Information and Communication Technology, energy, industrial technology, food technology and environment have been identified as the priority areas for co- operation in the document which is likely to give new thrust to bilateral science co- operation, tardy over the past few years.

The two sides agreed to promote exchange of scientific information and documentation including patents, licences and know-how between them, an official release said.

The two countries agreed to convene the next meeting of the joint working group (JWG) at the earliest to discuss and finalise a new programme of co-operation, spelling out the specific areas of bilateral interest, mechanism, modalities, financial commitments and implementation schedule.

Dr Joshi, also the Human Resource Development Minister, met Iran's First Vice- President Mohammad Reza Aref and discussed ways and means of boosting the all-out bilateral ties on November 9.

During the meeting, Aref said the policies of detente and development of mutual relations with the neighbouring countries are among the top priorities on Iran's agenda.

He said Iran attaches great importance to the eastern countries including India.

"There are huge potentials in both Iran and India and these potentials should be identified and used to further mutual co-operation in the various domains," Aref noted.

He said inking an agreement between the two nations on the transport of commodities, the North South corridor and export of gas through pipeline are all indicative of the good co-operation between the two countries.

Dr Murli Manohar Joshi touched on the breakthroughs achieved by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the scientific and technological areas and voiced India's readiness to share experience with Tehran in the said domains.

He called for co-operation between the two countries to remove the regional threats and to deal with the international issues in an effective way.

PTI