Supreme Leader of Iran Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday evening met and conferred with the visiting Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez. The Supreme Leader said that independent states should increase their own strength through unity and cooperation and whole-heartedly defend their common identity and the interests of their nations, IRNA reported. Ayatollah Khamenei added that since both countries enjoy popular and independent governments, they are naturally willing to cooperate with each other and this trend should be further strengthened. Ayatollah Khamenei also called for diligent follow-up of Iran-Venezuela agreements and said making use of available capacities would accelerate the process of growth in bilateral cooperation. On his part, the Venezuelan president expressed his great pleasure of once again visiting Iran and said the Islamic Republic of Iran serves as a good example for other countries. He added that numerous mutual contracts in the fields of oil, gas, petrochemicals and other branches of industry signify the importance that both countries attach to expanding cooperation.
