TEHRAN – On Wednesday, Iran’s deputy minister of cultural heritage, during a meeting with the Kazakh ambassador to Iran, proposed the formation of a joint cultural heritage committee between the two countries.

Ali Darabi, during the meeting held at the ministry’s headquarters, highlighted the shared cultural domain and their collaboration on World Heritage registrations, citing the example of the [UNESCO-listed] Nowruz dossier, which Iran has registered with the participation of 12 countries, including Kazakhstan.

He reminded the deep-rooted civilizational connections between the two nations, saying: “We have a rich heritage such as the great philosopher [Abu Nasr Muhammad] al-Farabi and the Silk Road, and our shared culture and religion form a significant foundation for cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan.”

“I am pleased that Kazakhstan is a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,” Darabi said.

In another part of his speech, the Iranian minister mentioned, “Last year, we registered [a collection of] 54 Iranian caravanserais as World Heritage. Currently, we have 27 tangible and natural heritage sites and 24 intangible heritage items listed by the UN body.”

Darabi proposed the establishment of a joint committee between Iran and Kazakhstan to engage in activities related to cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts throughout the year. He suggested that one of the initiatives could be organizing museum exhibitions showcasing the historical artifacts of both countries.

He also expressed hope to soon hold a cultural night dedicated to Iran and Kazakhstan to showcase the customs, traditions, and culture of both nations. “The new generation needs better awareness and understanding of their identity and civilization,” he added.

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador, Ontalap Onalbayev, remarked, “Iran and Kazakhstan are friendly and neighboring countries with significant international relations. I have traveled to various cities in Iran.”

Referring to Kazakhstan’s National Day on October 25, Onalbayev suggested that a cultural night featuring Iran and Kazakhstan could be organized in conjunction with this celebration.

Onalbayev further mentioned that the fifth edition of the World Nomad Games would soon be held, expressing his hope that representatives from Iran’s Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Cultural Heritage would be introduced to participate in this event. “These collaborations are essential for bringing our two nations closer together,” the envoy concluded.

AM