TEHRAN – Science Minister Hossein Simay Salaf met separately with the presidents of Uzbekistan and Slovakia to explore ways to boost scientific and technological cooperation.
Officials met on the sidelines of the 43rd General Assembly of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 30 to November 13.
According to Mehr news agency, in Friday’s meeting, Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev expressed Tashkent’s readiness to develop cultural, scientific and technological cooperation with Iran.
Simai-Sarraf emphasized the importance of promoting academic and scientific ties between the two countries. He also invited Uzbek officials to visit Iran.
Both sides emphasized science diplomacy and strengthening bilateral relations.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Simaj Saraf also met on Friday. Referring to international and geopolitical tensions, he said, “Iran is a large, important and strategic country. (Strengthening) diplomatic and friendly relations with all countries, including Iran, is an essential need.”
On Friday, Simay-Sarraf met with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Filipino Commissioner Shirley Agrupis.
Officials emphasized promoting science, research and academic cooperation, IRNA reported.
The two leaders also discussed the status of women in higher education, academic and student exchanges, joint research in the fields of new technology and marine science, as well as the signing of a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation between the top universities of the two countries.
The UNESCO General Assembly meets every two years to decide on policy and major work for the coming years. This is the first time that the exhibition will be held outside of Paris.
According to Foreign Minister Shimay Saraf, the main objective is to develop and strengthen scientific cooperation between Iran and the participating countries, according to IRIB news agency.
The sessions are organized around higher education in emergencies, education and digital technologies, ethics, especially the ethics of artificial intelligence, cultural heritage and dialogue, gender equality and women’s leadership, the climate crisis, skills development and training. Simaisarraf said Iran has a lot of experience and knowledge in these areas and intends to share it with other countries.
The official further said that the main purpose of higher education in Iran is to promote scientific diplomacy and actively participate in fields such as education, culture, science, civilization, and history.
He expressed the hope that participation in the meeting would lead to bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
MT/MG