Iran’s foreign relations are developing: Minister

Iran has cultural agreements with many countries with some as old as half a century, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati said in a meeting with Portuguese Foreign Minister Rui Machete in Tehran Tuesday.

At the meeting in which the two ministers signed a cultural agreement, Jannati said, ‘There is a solid base for expansion of bilateral relations and the two countries can have extensive cultural exchanges in the next couple of years.’

Jannati referred to 500-year-old bilateral relations between Iran and Portugal, calling for closer Tehran-Lisbon relations.

Referring to Iran Cultural Week held in Lisbon, Jannati said Iran presented various artworks among other things in music, cinema, at the event and ‘we hope to see Portuguese artists in Iran soon’.

Jannati also said Iran is ready to expand bilateral relations in different fields such as exchanging academic delegations, holding cultural exhibitions, and exploiting the two countries’ cultural potential.

He invited Portuguese film makers to participate in Fajr Film Festival which is held in Tehran annually in February.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese foreign minister called for the implementation of the cultural agreement, saying bilateral relations go back to the 16^th century.

Machete expressed hope that the two countries would be able to present their art works to each other.