Raisi, who is on a two-day official visit to Indonesia at the
invitation of his counterpart Joko Widodo, told reporters at Mehrabad airport
that Indonesia was an important country in Southeast Asia and had a significant
position in regional and international arrangements.
He said Iran had a comprehensive plan to connect with all Asian
countries and that it wanted to define broader relations with Indonesia as a
very important and prominent country in Southeast Asia.
He said the relations between the two countries could be pursued in
trade and economic areas, particularly in energy, oil, gas and petrochemicals.
He said Iran had achieved great successes in its petrochemical
industry and had exported $14 billion worth of products last year. He also said
Iran had become self-sufficient in producing most of the catalysts it needed.
He said Iran's oil and gas industry needed investment for development
and that it had offered a new model of contracts that would be appealing and
sweet for investors.
"I believe there is no project for investors sweeter than
investing in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry today," he said.
He also highlighted Iran's common views with Indonesia on regional and
international issues, saying both countries were opposed to unilateralism and
in favour of peace and sustainable security in the region. He said these common
views would bring the two countries closer together.
Raisi arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday morning local time and was
welcomed by Zulkifli Hasan, Indonesia's trade minister.
Meeting with Widodo and signing several cooperation documents between
the two countries' officials, as well as meeting with the head of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the speaker of the House of
Representatives, the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia
and talks with Indonesian and Iranian traders and businessmen are part of
Raisi's agenda during this visit.
Hossein Amirabdollahian, foreign minister, Javad Owji, petroleum minister,
Gholamhossein Esmaili, chief of staff of the president's office, Isa Zarepour,
communications and information technology minister, Rouhollah Dehqani
Firoozabadi, vice president for science, technology and knowledge-based economy
affairs of the president's office and Mohammad Jamshidi, political deputy of
the president's office are accompanying Raisi on this trip.