TEHRAN - A joint festival highlighting tourist attractions, handicrafts, and music of Iran and Turkmenistan is set to take place from October 22 to 24.

It will be held in Ashgabat in collaboration with Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Culture, Iran’s cultural attaché to Turkmenistan Navid Rasouli said on Tuesday.

International diplomats, senior officials from Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Culture, and Tehran’s ambassador to Ashgabat will be among the invitees to the festival, Rasouli said.

The festival, now in its second edition, will comprise travel highlights, handicraft shows and workshops as well as live performances.

“The goal of this festival is to foster stronger connections between tourism agencies in both countries, promoting the development of tourism and showcasing the attractions of Iran,” Rasouli stated.

Co-organized by Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the Turkmen Ministry of Culture, the event is part of ongoing efforts to boost cultural and tourism ties between the two nations.

Iran and Turkmenistan share a common border of more than 1000 km. Since Turkmenistan’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the two countries have enjoyed good relations and have cooperated in the economic, transportation, infrastructure development, and energy sectors. The two nations have strong historic ties.

AM