Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that Iran and Indonesia have decided to increase their annual trade ties to $20 billion while seeking to use national currencies to settle trade payments.

Raisi made the remarks on Tuesday in a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

He expressed hope that his visit to Indonesia would lead to an expansion of interactions between the two powerful Islamic countries that have constructive effects in their respected regions and in the world.

Raisi said that ties between Iran and Indonesia could further expand with a visit by Widodo to Tehran.

Stating that Iran and Indonesia can improve the level of ties in various fields, the Iranian president said that the signing of cooperation agreements earlier in the day showed the determination of the two countries to develop relations in all fields.

He said that during 70 years that have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Indonesia, the two countries have always had good interactions in political, economic, commercial, regional, and international areas.

Raisi said that cooperation with Islamic and neighboring countries is a priority of Iran�s foreign policy.

Expanding relations with Indonesia, one of the most important and effective countries in Asia and in the world, which is also a member of important regional and international organizations, is of great importance to Iran, he said.

Stressing commonalities that exist between Iran and Indonesia in various regional and international issues, including on issues of Palestine and Afghanistan, Raisi said that the two countries are committed to supporting the rights of the Palestinians until the liberation of Holy Quds.

The two sides also enjoy common views regarding the formation of a comprehensive government in Afghanistan that could represent all ethnic and religious groups and can protect the rights of all Afghan people, he said.

The Iranian president said that today Iranian women and girls have an effective and successful participation in various fields and have become a source of pride for the country.

We believe that Afghan women and girls also have the ability to bring pride to Afghanistan and to the Islamic nation, and they should be given the freedom to do social activities and enjoy educational opportunities, he said.

Raisi said that two decades of US presence in Afghanistan brought nothing but destruction, death, and led to disability for 35,000 children.

The Iranian president said that Iran and Indonesia are serious about fighting unilateralism in regional and international issues.

By IRNA