The governor of Gilan said: According to the smart policy of the 13th government, expanding relations with neighboring countries, especially Russia, is one of the main goals. In a meeting with the governor of Astrakhan, Russia, Asadollah Abbasi stated: In line with this policy, Astrakhan is considered as the gateway to Russian trade, and Gilan can be considered a decisive province in the comprehensive development of relations with this country. Stating that Gilan’s relationship with Russia is long-standing, he added: There is a readiness to expand our business relations with the cooperation of Astrakhan. Abbasi also called for the resolution of some problems in the shipping route between the two sides and expressed hope that the airline between the two provinces will continue to work more actively than in the past.