Iran, Venezuela sign agreement on cultural cooperation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Jun 2023 22:14

The national libraries of Iran and Venezuela national libraries will respectively create Spanish and Persian literature departments.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hands with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the end of their meeting at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, June 12, 2023 (AP)

Iranian Culture Minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, who is accompanying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on his current tour of Latin America, said on Thursday that Iran and Venezuela have signed a comprehensive five-year agreement on cultural cooperation.

"During the meeting with Mr. Ernesto Villegas, the Venezuelan minister of culture, we reached excellent accords, including a comprehensive five-year agreement on cultural ties between our countries, an agreement on mass media, and another one on the cooperation of our national libraries," Esmaili was quoted as saying by Iranian news agency IRNA.

Esmaili further added that an Iranian delegation will partake in a book exhibition in Caracas, scheduled to be held in November.

On the other hand, Days of Iran's Culture will be taking place in Venezuela and later in other countries across Latin America.

The minister also pointed out that Iran's cultural representative offices will be opened in Venezuela and Brazil.

The national libraries of Iran and Venezuela national libraries will respectively create Spanish and Persian literature departments, the official noted.

On another note, both Iran and Venezuela plan to effect a series of deals with regard to Iran's potential investments in the paper industry in Venezuela and the enhancement of bilateral maritime trade.

Raisi has recently concluded his tour in three countries of Latin America which included visits to Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

The Iranian President has highlighted the necessity of continued communication between independent nations in order to safeguard them from imperialist aggressions.

He has previously described Tehran's relationship with the three Latin American nations as strategic, highlighting their opposition to an international system based on "unilateral hegemonic power."

"Our common position with these three countries is opposition to the [world’s] hegemonic system and unilateralism," he indicated, adding that Iran cooperates with those countries in numerous areas.