Iran Press/ Africa: During his speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Cultural Center in Abuja on Tuesday, Acting Ambassador of Iran, Seyed Azizollah Miryousefi said, "Today we gather here for the 6th Asian Film Festival, an event founded in 2017 under the initiative of The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Since then, the festival has been warmly embraced by many Asian nations, showcasing the rich cultural and cinematic heritage of the continent."
The Acting Ambassador noted that initially, 14 countries had expressed their willingness to participate in this year's festival. However, due to prevailing international and regional challenges, some nations, including Lebanon and Syria, were unable to attend. He added that, regrettably, these countries are currently entangled in conflicts worsened by the aggression of the Israeli regime in the Middle East.
"We remain hopeful for the swift restoration of peace and security in the region, with the collective support of the global community, and that the Zionists regime will be held accountable for its grave violations by the international community and all advocates of justice worldwide," he concluded.
Earlier, the participating Asian countries at the film festival displayed their cultural artifacts, with Iran's exhibits capturing significant attention from many attendees.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Yakubu Ibrahim, Nigeria's Deputy Director of the Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board, praised the Islamic Republic of Iran for its profound expertise and rich heritage in cultural artifacts. He saidm "If you look at how they (Iran's artifacts) are made, you will know that it took a lot of intellect. The designing, the coloring, the product itself, is really marvelous. I'm really very impressed by the Iranian culture."
The Nigerian official remarked that, historically, Iran is a nation with a longstanding presence spanning many decades. He added that Iranians are known for their rich cultural heritage.
During the event, the Ambassador of Vietnam, representing the Asian countries, invited Iran's Acting Ambassador, Seyed Azizollah Miryousefi, to receive a gift of honor. This gesture recognized Iran's vision and initiative in establishing the Asian Film Festival, which has become a significant platform for fostering love, unity, and peace among the Asian countries and Nigeria, the host nation.
On the first day of the event, following the screening of a Chinese film, participants watched the Iranian film "Damascus Time."
The story centers on an Iranian pilot and his copilot son, whose plane is hijacked by ISIS terrorists in Syria while transporting humanitarian aid to a war-torn area. The film highlights the sacrifices made by Iranians to save lives in the region, regardless of religion or faith, from takfiri terrorists.
The countries that participated in the 2024 Asian Film Festival included India, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Korea, Turkey, Vietnam, Iran, and Nigeria.
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