Iran has called on China to cancel tourist visa requirements for Iranian citizens, following its unilateral move to lift visa restrictions for Chinese travellers.
This development is according to Mehr News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.
The request was made by Hojjatollah Ayoubi, Head of the Ministry’s International Affairs Centre, during an official meeting with Gao Zheng, China’s Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, on the sidelines of the SCO Ministers’ Meeting on Culture and Tourism in Qingdao.
During the talks, Ayoubi emphasised the deep-rooted cultural ties between Iran and China, describing both nations as heirs to ancient civilisations.
He proposed a series of bilateral initiatives, including joint exhibitions, cultural exchanges, co-production of documentaries, and academic cooperation in fields like museology and traditional medicine.
Ayoubi also stressed the importance of tourism as a bridge between people in an era of misinformation and encouraged China to take reciprocal steps to facilitate people-to-people engagement.
Vice Minister Gao welcomed Iran’s proposals, highlighting strong public interest in Iranian culture, including an ongoing exhibition in Beijing drawing over 70,000 visitors daily and expressed readiness to expand cooperation through joint programmes and a proposed cultural coordination committee.