Iranian official hails "extensive" cultural cooperation with China-Xinhua

This photo taken on May 18, 2024 shows an exhibit at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, Iran. (Xinhua/Shadati)

TEHRAN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran's cooperation with China in the area of cultural heritage is "extensive, friendly and responsible," Director of the National Museum of Iran Jebrael Nokandeh said here on Saturday.

Nokandeh, also a senior archaeologist, made the remarks at a ceremony marking the International Museum Day, which falls on May 18 annually.

As two major cultural heritage hubs in the world, Iran and China, one located in West Asia and the other in East Asia, were connected via the ancient Silk Road, "which is their common heritage," Nokandeh said.

Meanwhile, the two countries have been promoting cultural cooperation under the framework of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, which was established in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in late April 2023, he said.

The director noted that his museum had been working with Beijing's Palace Museum, Shanghai Museum, the National Museum of China, China's National Administration of Cultural Heritage, and the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in areas of archeological research, cultural relics exchange, and organizing exhibitions and educational workshops.

Iranian culture has attracted a significant number of Chinese tourists to the National Museum of Iran, with Chinese visitors comprising the largest group of non-Iranian visitors over the past 12 months, followed by Russians, Nokandeh said.

To facilitate the visits by Chinese tourists, the museum has published brochures in Chinese and trained museum docents for Chinese visitors, he said. ■

This photo taken on May 18, 2024 shows an exhibit at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, Iran. (Xinhua/Shadati)