Speaking to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the 16th NAM Summit of Leaders, President Ahmadinejad said independent states should have trade on the barter basis and on national currencies.

He said independent states’ using foreign exchanges in their trade would bring the profit gained out of circulation of the money in pockets of western states. This would allow western states to dominate bottleneck of money exchanges, added the president.

He added that on the other hand, barter trade using national currencies would encourage trade among countries.

Rajapaksa said for his part that Sri Lanka is thankful with Iran’s properly hosting the 16th NAM Summit. He said his country is ready for any kind of cooperation and support for Iran to promote NAM objectives.