Iran's Zarif Heading to Spain, China next Week

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will visit Spain next week before heading to China for the fourth regional conference on Afghanistan, an official said Wednesday.

The trip to Madrid is to expand bilateral ties, ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said at her weekly press briefing in Tehran, without confirming Zarif's day of departure.

"In his trip to China, the minister will attend the fourth regional conference on Afghanistan" to discuss ways to restore security, she added.

Iran shares a near 600 mile (960 kilometers) border with Afghanistan to the east and is a donor to the war-ravaged country, as well as hosting more than one million refugees.

It has also built roads, power transmission lines and contributes more than $50 million (39.4 million euros) annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts during the past five years, according to state media.