Iran, France to Promote Academic Cooperation

(Tasnim) – Iranian and French universities are set to build up a closer partnership under a Memorandum of Understanding the two countries have already signed, an Iranian official said.

The Gundeshapur project, a scientific initiative to strengthen academic cooperation between Iran and France, will be given a boost in the current Iranian year (ends on March 20, 2015), Iran’s Deputy Science Minster in International Affairs Hossein Salar Amoli announced on Sunday.

Based on the agreement, Iran and France have undertaken to fund joint academic plans, such as collaborative research by their universities and academics, he added.

“According to the MoU (Gundeshapur), 30 plans in different fields, including engineering, the human sciences, culture and other themes have been received so far, which could be implemented by cooperation between the Iranian and French universities,” the Iranian official noted.

Back in April, Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri had announced that Tehran attaches importance to bilateral relations with Paris.

In a congratulatory message cabled to Manuel Valls on his appointment as the new French prime minister, Jahangiri underlined that continuation of cooperation and exchange of views on bilateral and international issues with European countries, including France, is among the priorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy.