Iran, Afghanistan discuss scientific, educational cooperation

Iranian Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi and Afghan Minister of Higher Education Obaidollah Obaid, in a meeting in Tehran on Saturday, stressed the need for the expansion of Tehran-Kabul scientific ties and cooperation. In the meeting, the Afghan minister called on the Iranian side to prepare the ground for training Afghan medical students in Iran. He also called for expansion of Tehran-Kabul cooperation in the fields of surgery, cardiology, dentistry, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, nursing and midwifery. Qazizadeh Hashemi, for his part, voiced Iran's readiness to render health, treatment and medical education services to the Afghan nation. Iran is one of the most important donors to Afghanistan, which has kept its promises to help to the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. Iran has built several roads, power transmission lines, border stations and many other infrastructure projects to better link the two nations. Iran has also contributed more than $50mln annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts during the last five years.