TEHRAN -- Two economic cooperation memoranda were signed between private-sector representatives from Iran’s South Khorasan province and Afghanistan’s Farah province on Wednesday, as Tehran said the question of formally recognizing Afghanistan’s government should not hinder the expansion of bilateral relations.
The agreements were signed during a meeting between South Khorasan Governor Muhammad Reza Hashemi and Farah Governor Mawlawi Muhammad Mujahid on the second day of Hashemi’s visit to Afghanistan. 
They were concluded between the South Khorasan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and Farah’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment, as well as its Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock Production.
The memoranda focus on exchanging information on the economic capacities of the two regions, facilitating exports and imports, expanding bilateral investment and transferring technical expertise and engineering services in agriculture.
Strengthening private-sector ties and making greater use of the two regions’ geographic and cultural proximity to boost cross-border trade are among the main objectives of the agreements. The arrangements are intended to help activate untapped economic potential between South Khorasan and Farah.
Hashemi is leading an economic delegation to Farah to hold talks on reopening border crossings and increasing bilateral trade.
The agreements come as Tehran emphasizes the expansion of its broader economic and political engagement with Kabul.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that relations between Iran and Afghanistan were expanding across various sectors and that the question of formally recognizing Afghanistan’s government should not prevent the two countries from developing and strengthening their ties.
Speaking at a Foreign Ministry press conference, Baghaei said relations between the two neighboring countries remained at a good level in various areas and that Tehran was committed to maintaining and strengthening them.
Highlighting the historical, cultural and religious ties between the two Muslim neighbors, Baghaei said Iran and Afghanistan should take each other’s concerns into account and make greater use of existing economic and trade opportunities.
On the issue of formally recognizing Afghanistan’s government, Baghaei described it as a “legal-political issue” and said Tehran would announce its decision once it reached the necessary conclusions.
He stressed that regardless of the recognition issue, Iran would continue to develop and strengthen relations with Afghanistan across various fields.
Baghaei added that the recognition question should not lead to a suspension of bilateral relations or undermine efforts to expand cooperation between the two countries.