Iran, Uzbekistan to boost cultural ties

Iranian Culture Minister Seyyed Abbas Salehi, in a meeting with the Head of Uzbekistan’s Center for Islamic Civilization (UCIC) Shaazim Monavvarov, said that the UCIC will pave the way for broader cultural cooperation between Tehran and Tashkent.

Uzbekistan’s Center for Islamic Civilization (UCIC) will provide many opportunities for cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan, Salehi said during the meeting with Monavvarov in Tehran on Sunday.

He hailed long-standing ties between the two countries, saying that during the Islamic Renaissance from the ninth to 12th century, Uzbekistan was its heart in Central Asia.

He also underlined the need for promoting collaboration in various fields including cinema, music, publishing books and manuscripts.

Stressing the necessity for dialogue among the two countries’ elites, he said that the discussions can deal with ways to counter terrorism and extremist views and defending global peace.

Monavvarov, for his part, said that the center aims to safeguard works of the scholars, noting that his country is ready for exchanging artistic and cultural works.

Referring to cultural and artistic commonalities of the two countries, he added that they can have further cooperation in various domains, including cinema, music and calligraphy.

“Our country has currently adopted open policy in its foreign relations, specially with neighboring states,” he said.

Iran has broad cultural relations with member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), including Uzbekistan.

EA