India also began paying back $6 billion in debt from past oil purchase, last week giving Iran $750 million.
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He will also inaugurate an International Conference on “retrospect and prospect” of India and Iran relations. Modi is on a two day (from 22 May – 23 May 2016) visit to Iran.
“We Indians have a speciality”.
Soon after his arrival, Mr. Modi visited the Bhai Ganga Singh Gurdwara in Tehran and paid his respects there.
Prime Minister Modi, who is presently in Tehran on a two-day state visit to Iran, will have crucial meetings later in the day with leaders of the host country. “Our “dosti” (friendship) is as old as history”, he said.
Prime Minister Modi also interacted with the Indian students of Kendriya Vidyalaya in a hotel in Tehran. “Hope to enhance economic partnership between our nations”.
He will hold bilateral talks with President Hassan Rouhani after a ceremonial welcome on Monday morning, which will focus on regional connectivity, infrastructure and energy as well as terrorism and extremism in the region.
“It was also chose to boost ties between defense and security organizations of the two countries since bilateral cooperation between Iran and India has always been strong through history”, stressed Modi noting “continuous friendship between the two sides will lead to peace in the region”.
“In the sphere of connectivity. the bilateral contract on development and operation by India of Phase-I of the Chabahar port will be signed between Indian Ports Global Private Ltd and Arya Banadar of Iran”.
“India wants to challenge China’s power in central and South Asia through Chabahar Port”, Iran newspaper says. Railway public sector undertaking IRCON will build a rail line at Chabahar to move goods right up to Afghanistan, he added.
“Iran is a part of our extended neighbourhood, an important country in the region and one of India’s valuable partners”.
Chabahar is the closest port to Afghanistan. It lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from India’s western coast, bypassing Pakistan.
Chabahar is located in the Gulf of Oman on the border with Pakistan. The Chinese project comes on the heels of its investments in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
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In a twitter message released on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi called his upcoming meeting with Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei an opportunity for progress of strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Tehran.
