Iran says ready to deepen agricultural cooperation with Kazakhstan, China

Astana – Iran is ready to establish long-term agricultural cooperation with Kazakhstan and China, according to the Iranian agriculture minister.

In his address at the International Trade Forum in the Kazakh capital on Thursday, Gholamreza Nouri underscored the vital role of sustainable development, and stressed that it must be pursued not only economically but also with social and environmental dimensions in mind.

“To strengthen multilateral cooperation and improve the efficiency of resource use, countries must take more decisive steps,” he said.

Highlighting the significant agricultural capacities of both Iran and Kazakhstan, the minister said, “With fertile lands across diverse regions—particularly in the north and central parts of the country—and a unique four-season climate, Iran produces over 130 million tons of agricultural products annually.”

He added that Iran’s agri-food processing and value-added industries are highly developed, enabling the export of more than 10 million tons of agricultural goods each year to international markets.

Nouri also pointed to Iran’s strategic geopolitical location, bordering key partners like Kazakhstan and within close reach of China, as a unique advantage for fostering profitable, long-term cooperation.

“Iran is committed to sharing this strategic position with its friends and neighbors, facilitating east-west and north-south transit corridors for agricultural trade to global markets,” he said.