The Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih made a high profile visit to Iraq on Saturday, calling for increased economic cooperation and praising existing coordination to boost crude oil prices, Reuters reported.

Speaking at the opening of the Baghdad International Exhibition, Falih said cooperation between Iraq and Saudi Arabia contributed to “the improvement and stability we are seeing in the oil market”

Falih is the first Saudi official to make a public speech in Baghdad for decades. After years of tension between the two countries, relations began to thaw in 2015.

With a thaw in relations, Falih said a joint committee is “working on measures to speed up the establishment of an economic partnership and to reactivate cooperation and economic complementarity.”

Reuters reported that Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with Riyadh while Saudi Arabia hopes a stronger relationship with Baghdad would help rollback Iran’s influence in the region.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi left Baghdad on Saturday for a visit to Saudi Arabia.

His talks with Saudi officials will focus on efforts to rebuild Iraq after the war on Daesh and fostering economic and trade cooperation, a statement issued by his office said.

Falih meanwhile called for increased economic cooperation between the two countries at all levels, saying Saudi Arabia is implementing measures to facilitate the flow of goods and services between the neighbors.

A Saudi commercial airplane, operated by Flynas, arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for the first time in 27 years.

In August, the two countries said they planned to open the Arar land border crossing for trade for the first time since 1990.