Iran, Tajikistan culture ministers hold talks in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, IRNA – The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Abbas Salehi, and his Tajik counterpart, Matlubakhon Sattoriyon, have held a meeting to discuss views on expanding cooperation.

Salehi, who traveled to St. Petersburg to participate in the multilateral international event, held bilateral talks with Sattoriyon on the sidelines of the 11th St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum at the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin), south of St. Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday.

During the meeting, the Iranian minister highlighted the similarities between Iran and Tajikistan regarding cultural issues, stating, “Both countries share numerous cultural bonds, making it fitting to plan joint initiatives.”

Salehi proposed organizing joint events, such as contests and award ceremonies focused on Naqqali and reciting the Shahnameh, which are deeply rooted in the history of both nations.

For her part, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan welcomed this proposal, expressing her gratitude for the support of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in publishing the Shahnameh.

Additionally, both sides discussed recent bilateral agreements made during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. They discussed issues related to cultural interactions between the two countries.