Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will begin his two-day official visit to Vietnam on November 9 at the invitation of State President Truong Tan Sang.As the highest level one made by an Iranian leader since 1995, this visit aims to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam, especially in trade, agriculture, fisheries, culture, sport and tourism. Vietnam and Iran set up diplomatic ties on August 4, 1973. Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$165 million in 2011 and US$61 million in the first half of this year. Vietnam mainly exports rice, tea, rubber latex, apparels and footwear to Iran while importing fertilizer, asphalt and chemicals from the Middle East country. Iran now plays the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement. It is famed worldwide for possessing a long-established history, and a unique culture with the “Silk Road ” and the “One Thousand and One Nights” story.

(VOV)