TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday visited the Tabriz Historical Bazaar Complex and toured several areas of the UNESCO World Heritage Site during an official visit to the capital of East Azarbaijan province.
The minister toured parts of the bazaar, including the shoe store lane and the Mozaffariye carpet store, and spoke with local merchants and residents, the Milas Alia news agency reported.
The visit attracted the attention of local business owners and business activists, who welcomed the minister in the city’s main commercial hub, the report said.
In an interview with Mirasi Aliya, Araghchi said that Tabriz’s bazaar symbolizes the historical connections between Iran’s culture, economy and identity. “The bazaar is a living proof of the greatness of Iranian Islamic civilization in northwest Iran,” he said.
Mr. Araguchi added that the historic site has the potential to become a model for economic diplomacy, cultural tourism and regional cooperation, stressing that it will continue to play a role in linking local communities with international trade.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, the Tabriz Historical Bazaar Complex has been a center of cultural and commercial exchange along the Silk Road for centuries. The interconnected brick buildings, courtyards, and trading halls form one of the most complete examples of Iran’s traditional market system.
The bazaar was already thriving in the 13th century, when Tabriz became the capital of the Safavid Empire, and although it subsequently lost political status, it remained an important trading center until the late 18th century.
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