ANKARA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Thursday his working visit to Turkey would promote relations between the two neighboring nations.

    Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at Esenboga International Airport in Ankara, Mottaki said, "during my visit in Ankara, I would inform senior Turkish officials of Iran's latest nuclear activities."

    "Turkey and Iran are two prominent countries in the region. We would exchange ideas on opportunities for cooperation and discuss regional matters," Mottaki said.

    "Turkey and Iran are two important neighbors of Iraq. Both Turkey and Iran share the same goal of establishing peace and stability in Iraq," Mottaki said.

    Mottaki will meet his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan on Friday on bilateral relations and current issues related to the region.

    Mottaki would also talk with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    On Wednesday, Babacan announced Mottaki's visit to Turkey and said Ankala upholds efforts to solve Iran's controversial nuclear issue through dialogue.

    Babacan said the international community had concerns about Iran's nuclear program, noting that the five-year-old nuclear crisis stemmed from mutual lack of confidence between Iran and several countries.