The Secretary-General of AMF Goshtasb Mozaffari has met Astara Mayor Javad Maayiati in the permanent secretariat of the Asian Mayors Forum in Tehran on December 17, reported by Mehdi Piri, Director of AMF public relations.

During the meeting, the president of AMF introduced the forum's goals and practices as well as the key role of urban managers and local governments in urban sustainable developments. Mozaffari pointed to Astara's Geological situation as a port city in the border of Iran and Azerbaijan and put the spotlight on the importance of the city to pave the ground for tourism development. He added that Astara has the potential to play a big role in tourism and economic development in the North-South corridor and West Asia as well as the Caucasus.
Mayor of Astara noticed the role of AMF to pave the way for cooperation between the Iranian border city and the other Asian cities with the same culture. He also invited The Secretary-General of AMF to visit Astara and share their experiences for a better future. Astara is a city and capital of Astara County, Guilan Province, Iran. It lies on the border with the Azerbaijan Republic and the Caspian Sea. It is a relatively important border trade center between Iran and the Caucasus. The majority of people in Astara are ethnically Azerbaijani and speak the Azeri language.