Sushma Swaraj, Rouhani meet at SCO Summit, discuss bilateral ties

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during which the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional situation, including in the Gulf and West Asia region.

Both the leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral ties and underlined the need to step up efforts to expand cooperation in new areas.

Iran has been a key supplier of oil to India and both the leaders discussed issues related to it.

The India-Iran bilateral trade during the fiscal 2012-13 was USD 14.95 billion. India imported USD 11.6 billion worth of goods manly crude oil and exported commodities worth USD 3.35 billion.

India's export to Iran during the period April- November 2013 stood at USD 3.21 billion.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Iraq and Syria.

Swaraj, who was here to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, also met Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov during which the two leaders discussed energy-related issues.

India, one of the largest energy consumers in the world, thinks getting the SCO membership will help it participate in major gas and oil exploration projects in Central Asia. The SCO has amongst its members three largest energy producers in the world – Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.