According to Mehr News Agency, Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran, spoke at a summit on the theme “Caspian Sea: Bridges to Friendship and Regional Development”, which brought together the governors of 12 provinces from five Caspian Sea countries, held in Rasht on Tuesday.
He pointed out that Iran has more than one million recognized historical and cultural heritage sites, of which 43,000 are nationally registered. In addition, 29 tangible sites are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, while 28 intangible cultural sites and more than 58 sites have been provisionally recognized by UNESCO, pending full inscription in the coming years.
Salehi Amiri emphasized that Iran’s history, culture, famous personalities, poetry and traditions are intertwined with those of neighboring countries, providing the basis for new cooperation in culture, tourism and handicrafts.
The minister highlighted Iran’s more than 6,000 years of historical and cultural heritage that fosters regional cooperation, referring to Iran’s ancient civilizations, including the Safavid, Sassanid, Islamic and Achaemenid eras, as well as archaeological sites such as Shahre Sukhteh and Hegmataneh.
He stressed that due to Iran’s rich heritage, the country is expected to serve as a hub for tourism, handicrafts and cultural partnerships across the Caspian region, and this summit is an important step towards realizing this goal.
The Caspian Sea Region Governor’s Summit, with the theme “Caspian Sea: A Bridge to Friendship and Regional Development,” opened on Tuesday morning in Rasht, the capital of Gilan Province, Iran, with the participation of 12 provinces from five countries in the region.
The summit, hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will include five governors from Iran and seven governors from Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The panel will feature a general panel and three specialized panels covering economy and investment, transportation and logistics, and environment and fisheries, all moderated by senior national and state officials.
During the summit, governors and official delegations will discuss joint projects, strengthening transportation and north-south corridors, revitalizing port capacity, and establishing trade agreements between states, with the aim of strengthening economic, environmental, cultural and tourism cooperation.
The event will also provide a platform to promote Caspian tourism, coordinate regional policies, showcase the agricultural, industrial and investment capabilities of the coastal states, and promote joint trade exhibitions.
The Caspian Sea region is of strategic importance for trade, energy and environmental resources. Cooperation between coastal states can enhance regional development, facilitate cross-border trade, protect the environment, and promote tourism. Such summits provide a formal platform for dialogue, showcase investment opportunities, and coordinate regional policies to foster economic and cultural cooperation.
MNA/6659863