TEHRAN (Iran News) The event, held on Monday, brought together representatives of one of the most historically rooted regional organizations. ECO, originally founded in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey as a successor to the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD), expanded in 1992 to include seven additional countries—Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Home to more than half a billion people, ECO represents a region marked by intertwined histories, multilingual cultural traditions, and shared heritage sites that stretch across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East.

Salehi-Amiri, addressing the participants, described his presence at the commemorative gathering as an honor, noting that ECO’s foundations rest on “natural, geographical, and civilizational bonds” that have historically placed the nations of the region side by side. He stressed that while political boundaries may divide states, they have never severed the cultural, linguistic, and historical ties that connect their populations.

“In culture, history, customs, and collective memory, no borders exist between us,” he said. He pointed to regional celebrations such as Nowruz and Yalda—festivals observed across the vast geography of ECO—as vivid demonstrations of this shared heritage. These traditions, he noted, do not merely symbolize cultural continuity; they reinforce a common identity that predates modern nation-states.

The minister described the ECO region as a successful example of long-standing civilizational cohesion. While other parts of the world, such as Europe, achieved integration only after centuries of conflict, the countries of the ECO region have historically been intertwined through trade routes, literary traditions, mystical thought, and artistic exchange.

“Cultural linkages, soft diplomacy, and civilizational chains have been the rule in our region, not the exception,” he said. Salehi-Amiri cited historical cities—from Faryab to Bukhara and Konya—as centers that nurtured shared intellectual traditions and produced poets, philosophers, and scholars whose influence transcended borders and continues to shape the region’s identity.

He added that the authentic identities of Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, among others, are interwoven, reflecting centuries of shared linguistic and artistic development.

Calling the region’s cultural heritage a “strategic asset,” Salehi-Amiri highlighted its vast legacy of literature, manuscript tradition, miniature arts, poetry, and craftsmanship. He stressed that this heritage, spanning at least a thousand years, is unmatched globally in its depth and richness.

“Nowruz and Yalda are pillars of our shared regional identity, and today even the global community recognizes their cultural value,” he said. These elements of cultural patrimony, he argued, should serve as powerful foundations for enhancing regional collaboration in tourism, education, cultural industries, and creative economies.

In an era defined by globalization and competition, the minister argued that every region must identify its unique comparative advantage. For ECO countries, he said, that distinctive quality lies precisely in their shared culture, history, authenticity, and the “nobility of their peoples.”

Focusing on these assets, he suggested, could open new pathways for development and deeper integration across the region—economically, socially, and culturally.

In outlining a vision for the future of regional cooperation, Salehi-Amiri expressed hope that the ECO countries would move toward establishing a unified regional visa—similar to the Schengen model in Europe.

“One day, a single visa for the region will be realized,” he said. “A day when people can travel freely among neighboring countries, when tourists and investors operate without concern across all borders, and when cultural, economic, and political cooperation is strengthened on the foundation of people-to-people relationships.”

He concluded by noting that such a vision would not only enhance mobility and economic activity but would also reinforce the shared sense of belonging that has historically defined the region.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) In a phone conversation with the head of the Turkish Republic’s Communications Department Fakhruddin Alton on Wednesday, Salehi said that the two countries must strengthen their cooperation and try to extend it in the direction of the interests of the two nations.”Iran, Turkiye can benefit from common cultural potential: Minister”

He hastened to add that in this regard, the statements and positions of the official authorities are of double importance.

The developments in the region and the intensification of the crimes of the Zionist regime have made the closeness and unity between the Muslim nations more necessary than ever before, he said.

In this situation, it is necessary to avoid any divisive actions or words, Salehi said.

Alton, for his part, said that in the recent meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations summit, the presidents of the two countries emphasized the need to expand relations in all fields.

He expressed his desire to meet Salehi in the future.

The Turkish official also expressed hope that the sides can expand the existing cooperation in a wide way, saying that he is confident that even if there are problems, they can solve them through dialogue.

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During the meeting, the two sides stressed the need for promoting cultural relations between the two countries.

Soleimani stressed the need to make use of the existing capacities between the two neighbors to devise better joint programs in a bid to improve the level of cultural cooperation between the two countries, quantitatively and qualitatively.

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The expansion of cultural relations was discussed at the meeting, which was also attended by Slovak Ambassador Lubomir Golian and the director of Iran’s Institute for Development of Contemporary Art, Mehdi Afzali.

Rigó called culture the best means to boost ties among nations and announced that his country plans to organize some cultural festivals in Tehran in the near future to celebrate 25 years of cultural relations with Iran.

He also said that his country is small but enjoys a cultural diversity and that he can imagine how diverse different Iranian cultures would be.

Hosseini also talked about the variety of Iran’s regional culture and music, which are of great interest to other countries.

Ambassador Golian also pointed out that his country is seeking to reinforce its art and cultural relations with Iran.

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The competition will be held in various categories, including cartoon, caricature, poetry, short story and short screenplay.

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A variety of different cultures live together in Braunschweig and the House of Cultures would like to provide a new insight into individual cultures of the inhabitants through the Kulturschrank project, which has been underway since last autumn, the house has announced on its website.

More than 30 people from 16 different cultures are participating in the project.

People from countries such as Iran, Mexico, Indonesia, Haiti, Italy, England, Russia, Poland, Syria, South Korea, China, Turkey and Germany will take part in the artistic and aesthetic workshops, which are scheduled to be arranged by the organizers.

The results of the art workshops will end up as tactile objects, video material and images that will go on display at the exhibit.

The exhibit will last for one month.

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South Korean Ambassador Kim Seung-Ho and a number of Iranian cultural officials attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition titled “Korea, Close-Up”.

The exhibition is displaying some photos of Korean tourist attractions, Korean food and traditional costumes, and a number other materials.

The Embassy of South Korea organizes the exhibit in collaboration with the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Iran-Korea diplomatic relations.

The exhibit will run until September 9 at the center located on Qeitarieh Park.

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