Cultural exchanges between China and Iran are fostering closer bilateral ties, potentially serving as a model for cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Ezzatollah Zarghami.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Zarghami shared his insights on the extensive programs in cultural, artistic, and educational exchanges between the two countries.
"In the fields of art, film, book publishing, and cultural-related areas, cooperation has been well advanced. Another important aspect is the cooperation in cultural heritage and the field of civilizations between the two countries, which I believe has been well implemented so far. The work done during this period, particularly in the restoration of historical monuments and prevention of cultural artifact smuggling, has been of great significance. At the Baghdad Conference attended by ten ancient civilizations, Iran proposed unified actions among the participating countries to retrieve illegally taken cultural artifacts, especially those exhibited in Western museums. This is one of our common future plans. Additionally, it includes museum collaborations, tourism, handicraft exhibitions, and organizing educational seminars, among others," he said.
"Let me introduce to your audience that Chinese media personnel and internet influencers have visited Iran. They have a large number of followers, approximately 60 million. These followers have started to pay more attention to topics related to Iran, and a B2B dialogue has been established between us for organizing museum exhibitions. The Cultural Heritage Alliance initiated by China, as an alliance between Asian and Silk Road cities, has been recognized and has worked well in Iran. In terms of museum cooperation, the Chinese side has provided training courses for some of our colleagues, for which I express my gratitude. They have also collaborated in combating the illegal export of cultural artifacts. I believe that cooperation in cultural heritage, tourism, and even handicraft fields is a very positive way to strengthen bilateral relations and implement past agreements," Zarghami explained.
Beyond the artistic exchanges, Zarghami highlighted the significant role culture plays in deepening ties between the two countries, impacting various fields.
"China is seeking to make civilization and culture the basis for developing trade, economy, and other areas of relations, which is very good. In my opinion, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its member countries are valuable assets in the international cooperation system and can play an important role in international relations. It is gratifying that Iran and China have good mutual relations in various fields, which are built on the foundation of civilization and culture. This kind of relationship between the two countries can serve as a model for other countries," Zarghami added.
Iran hails cultural ties with China as model for SCO cooperation
