The minister conveyed the message during a meeting with Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sun Yeli, on Thursday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2nd General Assembly and 3rd Council Meeting of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, held from November 26 to 29 in Chongqing, China.

“I am carrying Dr. Pezeshkian’s message for you and for the President of China. The President of Iran emphasizes that our economic, political, and cultural relations are already strong, and this strength should also be reinforced in the areas of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts. The expectation of the Islamic Republic of Iran is that our cultural cooperation will now move into a practical and more deeply developed phase,” Salehi Amiri said.

He added that the culture ministries of both countries possess the necessary capabilities to enhance ties, noting that Iran’s sustainable security and tourism capacities can lay the groundwork for deeper cooperation.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural collaboration, he proposed the creation of an Asian framework for heritage cooperation aimed at boosting the region’s soft power.

Salehi Amiri also highlighted Iran’s readiness to work with China on museum technologies and artificial intelligence to better showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage.

He referred to the 55th anniversary of official relations between Iran and China, suggesting that 2026 be designated as the Year of Cooperation in various cultural fields.

The minister invited his Chinese counterpart to attend the Tehran International Tourism Exhibition scheduled for February, as well as the Nowruz celebrations, which will see participation from 13 countries.

In response, Minister Sun Yeli expressed strong support for Iran’s initiatives, emphasizing the potential for expanded cooperation, particularly in tourism and cultural exchange.