(VOVworld) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called Thursday for a new relationship with France as he met with business leaders in Paris to revive economic ties after sanctions on Iran were lifted.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls (L) shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on January 28, 2016 during a meeting at the French employers association MEDEF headquarters in Paris. (AFP/ERIC FEFERBERG)

Rouhani said Iran is ready to turn a new page and establish a new relationship between the two countries.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Iran "can count on France", adding that France is ready to send representatives of its major companies, engineers,  and  specialists to help Iran modernize.

France is the second leg, after Italy, of President Rouhani’s first official visit to Europe.