TEHRAN (Iran News) –Due to efforts of the Communications and International Affairs Office of Municipality of Shiraz, a cultural event of photo exhibition on Shiraz was held in its sister city of Pecs in Hungary with the presence of cultural and diplomatic officials of both countries as well as citizens of this European city.

According to the Communications Office of Municipality of Shiraz, a photo exhibition on the grandeur of the city of Shiraz was held in its sister city of Pecs of Hungary with efforts of this office.

Peter Hoppal, a member of Hungary’s National Assembly and Head of Iran-Hungary Friendship Group and former mayor of Pecs Mr. Zsolt Páva were among the participants in the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Before the opening of the event, mayors of Shiraz and Pecs as well as Iran’s ambassador and parliament member paid homage to the bust of great Iranian poet Hafez with putting wreath of flower.

Addressing this cultural event, Iran’s ambassador to Hungary called the day an important day in the bilateral calendar of sisterhood relation of Shiraz and Pecs, adding that they have gathered at this beautiful and historic city of Pecs to inaugurate the exhibition on Shiraz, the most prestigious and prominent city of his country in the past millenniums. Hamid Arefi said Shiraz has been the cradle of Iran’s civilization and the event bespeaks of joint determination and fruitful path that both sides are moving on this path. He hailed this cultural move and expressed hope the sincere and warm relation of these two cities would continue and soon a photo exhibition on Pecs would be held in Shiraz.

Then Mayor of Metropolis city of Shiraz Mr. Mohammad Hassan Asadi, for his part, on behalf of heaven-like Shiraz, city of hoisted domes, city of science and literature and capital of culture and art of Islamic Iran civilization, he was carrier of the message of peace and friendship of noble Iranian nation and intellectual citizens of Shiraz for the noble and dear citizens of Hungary especially citizens of the sister city of Pecs.

The Mayor of Shiraz stipulated that Shiraz is the city of Hafez whose thought is inspiration for many of big literary men of the world and it is the city of Saadi whose book of Boostan (Garden) is among the top 100 literary books of all time.

He termed Pecs as the land of the first scientific and cultural issues and noted that this city hosts the first university of Hungary which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the first public library of Hungary has been established in this city.

Asadi went on to say that today a new chapter has opened in the valuable cultural exchanges between the two sisters cities and hailed continuity of ties between these two cities. He also praised for choosing this library for holding the exhibition which reminds us of choosing Pecs as the cultural capital of Europe in 2010.

Meanwhile mayor of Pecs expressed his satisfaction over holding the exhibition that presents cities with those valuable photos. He added that Pecs has the same meaning for Hungarians that Shiraz has for Iranians.

Shiraz and Pecs signed the sisterhood agreement on May 9, 2016, as the world’s oldest cities, Shiraz and Pécs date back to more than two thousand years ago indicating their rich culture.