Iran, Turkey enjoy common interests: Ahmadinejad

Tehran, April 27 (IANS) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday said that Iran and Turkey share common interests and must develop bilateral relations for their and the region's benefit.

"Iran and Turkey are two large countries with plentiful talents, and the development of bilateral relations is in the interests of both countries and the entire region," said Ahmadinejad while meeting with visiting Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz, reported Xinhua citing Press TV.

"Common enemies" of both countries are against the expansion of ties between the two nations, as it would be harmful to their interests, he was quoted as saying.

Yilmaz, for his part, hailed the expansion of Iran-Turkey relations during Ahmadinejad's presidency, saying that his country supports more cooperation with the Islamic republic.

The Turkish minister added that Tehran and Ankara share interests in regional and global issues, "and even if we have differences of opinion on some issues, Turkey recognizes that the future and destiny of the two countries are tied together".

Turkey seeks to increase the volume of trade transactions with Iran to more than $30 billion from the current level of $22 billion, said Yilmaz who, heading an economic delegation, is on a three-day visit to Iran.