TEHRAN – 151 historical artifacts selected from some of Tehran’s most famous museums will be displayed in a special exhibition at the Sichuan University Museum in Chengdu, China.
Mr. Mair reported that the exhibition, titled “Land of Kindness”, aims to strengthen cultural and artistic exchanges and promote cultural diplomacy between the two countries.
This loan exhibition is organized in cooperation with Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. Directorate General of Cultural Heritage of Tehran Province. Museum Directorate. and China International Cultural Exchange Center.
The exhibition features rare artifacts from prominent Tehran museums such as Reza Abbasi Museum, Glassware and Pottery Museum, Carpet Museum, National Art Museum, and Moghadam Museum.
The selected items span a remarkable historical range, from the 3rd millennium BC to the late Islamic period. They include metal, ceramic and glass objects, as well as textiles and carpets, reflecting Iran’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
Tehran and Beijing aim to expand cultural and tourism cooperation
The two countries have great potential to expand their cooperation in cultural exchanges, especially considering the strong commitment of both countries’ leaderships. This became clear with President Xi Jinping’s visit to Tehran in 2016, which elevated the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Iran’s pivot to Asia, exemplified by former President Ebrahim Raisi’s state visit to China in early 2023, further solidified this trajectory. As a result, 20 cooperation documents were signed between the two countries, two of which were specifically aimed at promoting tourism and cultural cooperation.
From March 21, 2023 to January 20, 2024, more than 54,000 Chinese tourists visited Iran, spending an average of $1,000 per person. In response, Iran introduced a visa-free policy for Chinese nationals and trained Chinese-speaking guides. The surge in demand was evident as travel agencies such as Utour sold out 29,800 yuan ($4,333) 13-day Iran tours in one day. Iran is increasing accessibility for Chinese tourists by providing museums with catalogs in Chinese to help visitors better understand their culture. The Ministry of Culture and Heritage also plans to train hotel staff and chefs in Chinese language and cuisine, reflecting the importance of China as a major market for Iran’s tourism sector.
Implementing a visa-free policy and expanding direct flights are critical to strengthening tourism and business ties between China and Iran. Since June 2019, Iran has unilaterally extended visa-free entry to Chinese nationals, including from Hong Kong and Macau, for stays of up to 21 days. The initiative aims to encourage both leisure and business travel and significantly simplifies entry requirements, requiring only passports valid for at least six months. Additionally, dual passport holders can enter Iran visa-free using their Chinese passport, and mandatory travel insurance is mandatory for all visitors.
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