Tehran – Iran has expressed its readiness to expand its cultural cooperation with Uzbekistan, particularly in the areas of museum exhibitions, World Heritage Listings and historical restoration projects.
These areas of cooperation were highlighted on Sunday in a meeting between Iran’s Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage Ali Dharabi and Tarsnari Khzyev, the first deputy director of the Uzbekistan Cultural Heritage Bureau, Mehr reported.
Darabi highlights the deep cultural and civilized relationships between the two countries and says it is ready to collaborate with the joint file on drafting a joint file for UNESCO World Heritage Registry, hosting museum exhibitions and involvement in restoration projects.
“Iran and Uzbekistan share deep historical and cultural ties. These commonalities provide an excellent foundation for strengthening bilateral cooperation in cultural heritage,” Dharabi said.
Citing the “Ancient Persian Glory” exhibition in China, it introduced 216 prominent Iranian artifacts and attracted over 50 million visitors, and Dharabi proposed holding similar exhibitions in Uzbekistani cities such as Tashkent and Samarkand. He also expressed his willingness to share his expertise on historical recovery and offer collaborative training programs.
Emphasizing the role of Persian as a historical and cultural connection, Dharabi said, “Persian was once the administrative language of Uzbekistan. This shared language heritage is a valuable cultural asset that can promote our relationship.”
He also mentions the symbolic importance of Samarkand and Bukhara in Iranian literature and identity, highlighting their enduring presence in Persian poetry as a symbol of love, culture and history.
Kuziev welcomed the prospects of an extended collaboration, pointing to the artistic and spiritual similarities between the artifacts of Iran and Uzbek museums. He cited examples of Iranian influence in Uzbekistan’s historic architecture, including Persian inscriptions and poems by Hafez on mosques and minarets from centuries ago.
Kuziev said that scientific and practical cooperation with Iran could play an important role in maintaining the cultural heritage that both countries share, and expressed his keen interest in leveraging Iran’s expertise in restoring and preserving historic sites.
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