Hassan Rouhani, Iranian president, has arrived in Turkey for a two-day visit to discuss energy and trade ties as well as the Syrian crisis which has stained relations between the two neighbours in the recent years.

Two countries are at odds over Syria, with Iran being a strong strategic ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the start of the uprising against him in 2011, while Turkey has been one of his fiercest critics, supporting his opponents and giving refuge to rebel fighters.

Last year the election of Rouhani, whose foreign policy of "prudence and moderation", has eased Iran's international isolation. The visit will be the first by an Iranian president to Turkey since 2008.

Rouhani said on leaving for Ankara on Monday that he will discuss with Turkish leaders developments in Syrias.

The visit comes as Iran and six major powers prepare to hold another round of talks on a final deal aimed at ending a decade-old dispute over the country's nuclear programme.

A preliminary deal was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, in November, under which Iran accepted to halt some sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for partial easing of sanctions.

"In recent months, we have witnessed positive developments in the region, particularly in Syria and Iraq," Rouhani said in remarks before leaving Tehran, the country's ISNA news agency reported.

"It is a necessity [for Iran and Turkey] to cooperate in all aspects, as well as issues regarding North Africa, Palestine and the Middle East."
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Rouhani said improvement of bilateral relations was of "importance" to the whole region.

The deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party said Iran's Syria policy was on the agenda during Rouhani's visit.

"One topic we will discuss with Rouhani is Iran's position regarding the Syrian civil war," Yasin Aktay said on Thursday.

"Iran's policy on Syria is not going to benefit Iran."

While deep divisions remain between the two countries over the conflict in Syria, the potential of an Iranian market of 76 million people with some of the world's biggest oil and gas reserves is a magnet for Turkish companies.

During Erdogan's visit to Iran in January, a preferential trade agreement was signed aimed at paving the ground to boost trade to $30bn by 2015.