Dubai: Expressing hope that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure would be an era of great opportunities and development for India, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has said that he was keen to further expand bilateral cooperation, mainly in the international campaign to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.

Khatami stated this during a telephonic conversation yesterday (May 28, 2004) with Singh, whom he felicitated on assumption of the office of Prime Minister, 'IRNA' news agency reported.

"India is a great nation that plays a prominent role in maintaining international peace and security," he said.

Khatami expressed pleasure about the two countries' joint efforts to help reconstruct Afghanistan and hoped that current Indo-Iran cooperation would get a boost in near future.

Welcoming the Indo-Pak resolve to revive their peace process, he said their efforts to settle differences would contribute to boosting peace and security in the region.

About Iraq, he said a withdrawal of the US-led forces was a prerequisite to the restoration of sovereignty to that country.

Singh said India and Iran "have made great strides to boost their bilateral relations. We are willing to strengthen friendship with Iran". He called for exchange of visits of two nations' top officials to lead the ties to a more dynamic era.

On Iraq situation, Singh stressed the necessity of restoring peace and security there as well as having the international community's participation in efforts to resolve the country's problems and suffering of its people.

On Indo-Pak relations, Singh said New Delhi is committed to continuing the peace process, IRNA added.