Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan emphasized that expansion of cultural relations between Tehran and Ashgabat will lead to cooperation in other sectors between Iran and Turkmenistan.

Iran PressIran news: Atagely Shamuradov made the comment in an exclusive interview with Iran Press on Sunday.

Standing alongside the Head of Iran's Culture and Islamic Communications organisation, Abuzar Ebrahimi Turkaman, Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan said: "Boosting of cooperation between the governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkmenistan is a sign of the warm and close relationship between the people of the two countries. This is why Tehran-Ashgabat relations have expanded and strengthened in recent years."

The opening ceremony of Turkmenistan's cultural week was held in Tehran's Vahdat Hall, attended by foreign ambassadors, cultural figures, artists, Turkmenistan's Minister of Culture, and the head of Iran's Culture and Islamic communications Organisation. 

Atagely Shamuradov also said the common border between Iran and Turkmenistan is a border of peace and friendship.

He said the holding of a cultural week is useful because the peoples of the two countries should get to know each other's rich cultural heritage.

For his part the head of Iran's Culture and Islamic Communications organisation, Abuzar Ebrahimi Turkaman, in an exclusive interview with Iran Press on Sunday said: "A cultural agreement was signed last year during President Rouhani's visit to Turkmenistan, and as part of that agreement, it was decided to organise a cultural week once every two years.

He added: "In previous years we organised a variety of programmes, such as the Silk Road gathering in Ashgabat, special Nowrouz festivities on the border between the two countries in the current year, and an arts festival on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, in which Turkmen artists participated.

"Also, we intend to hold a joint conference on the occasion of 1000th anniversary of passing away of Sheikh Abu Saeed Abol Kheir, the famous dervish, and philosopher, to celebrate his life and works. The final resting place of the Sheikh, who lived in the latter half of the fourth century, and the early part of the fifth century AH, is in Turkmenistan. Both countries will contribute to organising this conference," Ebrahimi Turkaman concluded.

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