Iraq intends to expand cooperation with ASEAN

JAKARTA (Xinhua) - A senior Iraqi official expressed here on Thursday the country's interest in furthering cooperation in counter terrorism and energy sectors with the Southeast Asian bloc of ASEAN though some of the bloc's members have already set up close relations with the Middle Eastern country in the oil and gas sector.

Iraq's eagerness to develop ties with ASEAN was conveyed by the newly-appointed ambassador to ASEAN Ismieal Muhsin when he presented the Letter of Credence to ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh in the bloc's secretariat here.

Muhsin suggested that cooperation in the energy sector should be highlighted in crude oil and petroleum production.

Minh said that further cooperation in the proposed sector with Iraq would be very possible, and ASEAN is eager to do so and it can be expanded to the investment sector, according to a statement sent by the ASEAN Secretariat to Xinhua.