Tehran, IRNA – Heads of State of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) issued a final declaration at the end of their 7th summit in Algeria, placing emphasis on proposals put forward by the Iranian president, including adopting new policies aimed at breaking monopoly on gas trade technologies.

The GECF heads of state concluded their daylong summit on Saturday in the Algerian capital, Algiers, approving the declaration “in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation”, emphasizing the importance of several proposals which Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi put forward, according to a report by the IRNA on Sunday.

Raisi said that the world is facing numerous challenges which require integration among governments to enable them to take the path of development.

“It is essential that the GECF member states adopt new policies to create conditions for breaking the monopoly on technologies related to gas trade”, he noted, proposing that the GECF secretariat creates a mechanism that will help member states exchange technical knowhow and experiences in the gas industry.

The Iranian president also said that his country’s regional strategy is to increase the production and export of natural gas and help raise regional countries’ access to this valuable and clean fuel. He announced Iran’s readiness to turn into an energy hub in the region and provide a safe route for the distribution and transit of gas between producers and consumption markets.

Participants in the GECF summit, which brought together representatives from the member states as well as observer and guest countries along with OPEC and several regional energy blocs, expressed resolve to “promote natural gas as an abundant, affordable, flexible and reliable energy source”, according to the text of the Algiers Declaration.

“The leaders welcomed the inauguration in Algiers of the headquarters of the Gas Research Institute to expand cooperation in, inter alia, natural gas technologies, scientifically-guided research, and innovation-led capacity-building for the benefit of GECF Member Countries”, the declaration said.

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