TEHRAN The Iranian Cultural Week held in the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was covered extensively by the Chinese newspaper **** Culture ****.

According to the paper, Iranian Cultural Week aims to familiarize people of the two countries with each other's cultures and to expand bilateral cultural relations between the two nations.

Activities carried out during the week included concerts of traditional Iranian music; holding exhibitions displaying different Iranian artistic works; staging some parts of the Shahnameh; Seminar on Dialogue Among Civilizations, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

In the inaugural ceremony of the week, staging some parts of the Shahnameh attracted a large audience. The Shahnameh is a masterpiece written by the renowned Iranian poet Ferdowsi.

In the Shahnameh, Ferdowsi expressed the history of his ancient land (Iran) in an eloquent language in the form of poems. The stories of the book are manifestations of his magnificent artistic power.

Meanwhile, the Chinese newspaper said that the production of arts and handicrafts in Iran increases the power of the imagination.

Also an exhibition of metal and glass works, carpets, pottery and tile works was presented during the week. It was highly acclaimed by the Chinese people.

**** Culture **** added that on June 25, some experts on the Persian language and Iranologists of Beijing and some Iranian experts held the Seminar on Iran-China Cultural Exchanges.

A collection of classic Persian books, including the Shahnameh, will be published in Chinese by Hunan Art and Literature Publishers in the near future.

There is no doubt that these books will be popular in China.