Iranian, Indonesian cultural officials underline expansion of ties

Head of Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Mohammad Baqer Khorramshad and Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Muhammed Nuh stressed the need for bolstering cultural ties between Tehran and Jakarta. On the sidelines of Cultural Week of Indonesia which started work in the Iranian capital city of Tehran on Sunday evening, the two officials hailed the existing relations between the two friendly states, and vowed to expand their country's cultural relations. During the opening ceremony, Khorramshad said that the cultural event indicates growing cordial relations between Tehran and Jakarta. On Sunday, Iranian Culture Minister Ali Jannati and Muhammed Nuh praised the existing bilateral relations between the two friendly nations, and pledged to do their best to bolster Tehran-Jakarta ties in all fields, particularly in cultural arenas. In a meeting in Tehran, Jannati said Indonesia is an important country in the Islamic world as well as Asia, adding that fortunately the two countries have good cultural, economic, social and political cooperation. The Indonesian minister, for his part, appreciated Iranian hospitality and underlined that as a Muslim state, we admire Iranian rich culture, friendship and brotherhood. Muhammed Nuh also referred to vast commonalities between the two countries, adding that Tehran and Jakarta can strengthen mutual cooperation upon these commonalities. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Indonesian counterpart Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa stressed the need for broadening the two states' mutual cooperation in all arenas. In a meeting on the sidelines of the 68th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Iranian and Indonesian foreign ministers underlined the importance of bolstering bilateral ties between Tehran and Jakarta. Late in August, Indonesia's Ambassador to Tehran Dian Wirengjurit and Head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture Mohammad Nahavandian, in a meeting in Tehran, underlined the need for bolstering and reinvigorating the two states' mutual economic cooperation in various fields, specially in the oil and gas sectors. During the meeting, Nahavandian said that cooperation in oil, gas and petrochemical sectors have been suitable areas of cooperation between the two sides over past years with the private sector of Iran entering the field. Nahavandian said enhancing cooperation for development of small and medium-sized industries can also expedite expansion of bilateral relations. Wirengjurit, for his part, said that the two countries can have cooperation in oil and chemical sectors. The Indonesian envoy added that Indonesia is capable of finding good infrastructures for mutual cooperation. Iranian and Indonesian officials have on many occasions stressed their resolve to expand bilateral relations and mutual cooperation in different fields.