TEHRAN, July 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran and Iraq signed here Sunday two memoranda of understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and transportation, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    One MoU, inked by visiting Iraqi Minister of Trade Abdul BasitKarim and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Shariatmadari, was aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in various trade and commercial fields, said the report.

    Based on the MoU, the two countries expressed readiness to sign free trade agreements, facilitate issuance of trade visa, hold exclusive exhibitions, facilitate rendering of technical and engineering services and make joint investment in infrastructure constructions, the report added.

    The development of border markets, the establishment of Iran'strade bureau in Baghdad and the cooperation of the Iraqi side in this regard were also among issues agreed upon by the two sides.  

    Additionally, the MoU also stressed Iran's readiness to export automobile, cement, steel and petrochemical products to Iraq. 

    Meanwhile, Iranian Minister of Transportation Mohammad Rahmati and his Iraqi counterpart Salam al-Maliki signed another MoU on expansion of rail, road, air and sea transportation between the two neighbors.

    The two MoUs are the expected fruits of the landmark visit of an Iraqi delegation led by Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, who arrivedin Tehran on Saturday afternoon.

    The two countries fought an eight-year war during the 1980s, but relations have improved since a new Iraqi Shiite-dominated government was formed in April.  Enditem