Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, the speaker of the National Assembly, on Tuesday, received Saeid Zare, the head of the Iranian Mission to The Gambia, in her office, in a bid to establish ties between the Assembly and the Iranian parliament.

Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after his audience with the speaker, Mr Zare said his visit was meant to explore possibilities of forging ties between the legislatures of the two countries, for future cooperation.

"My discussion with the speaker centred on how the two parliaments can have exchange visits in a bid to strengthen the fruitful relationship between Iran and The Gambia," he said, noting that Iran is very keen to see greater partnership between the two legislatures.

The Iranian diplomat expressed hope that with the efforts of the speakers of the two countries, this relationship will materialise in the not too distant future.
Sierra Leonean

High Commissioner
In a separate engagement, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay also received Mohammed Foday Yamkalia, the Sierra Leonean high commissioner to The Gambia, who bade her farewell, following the end of his diplomatic assignment in the country.

In an interview with reporters, Mr Yumkolra described his stay in The Gambia as successful, adding that the bilateral relations between Banjul and Freetown had been strengthened during his tenure.

"One of my major assignments during my term was to see how the cordial relationship between the two countries could be further strengthened," the outgoing Sierra Leonean diplomat said.

According to the high commissioner, it was his wish to further strengthen cooperation in the areas of agriculture, health and education, as well as explore ways and means in which the medical schools of the two countries can have exchange programmes, which has a bearing on sub-regional integration.