Given the history of Iran and China, enhancing the deep cultural ties between the two ancient nations should be the most important strategy to follow in practice, head of the National Library of China (NLC) said on a visit to the Shiraz branch of the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) in Fars Province, on Thursday (Sept. 17).
Han Yongjin said, �The revival of the Silk Road can help promote cultural discourse and dialogue among civilizations. It is a great opportunity for further interaction between Iran and China,� IRNA quoted him as saying.
An ancient network of trade and cultural transmission, the Silk Road was central to cultural interaction between regions in Asia and the West, from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea.
Economic and cultural trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the civilizations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, the Horn of Africa and Arabia. Recently, the reconstruction of the route has started in China, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Iran.
Iran and China can expand their cultural cooperation through exchanging and preserving manuscripts and cultural heritage, Yongjin said.
�National Library of China has 34 million books now, a large portion in Chinese. A few Persian books also exist,� he noted. �Everyday 10,000 people refer to the library directly and indirectly.�
As he said, the average book reading in China is five books per person per year.

Joint Exhibitions
Yongjin who arrived in Tehran at the head of a cultural delegation on Tuesday, visited NLAI and held talks with its director Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri. Both sides agreed on further cooperation in the field of joint exhibitions and exchange of Persian and Chinese sources in national libraries of the two countries. Also, the possibility of creating a data system for Iranian and Chinese researchers was explored.
�What is important for us is to develop cultural relations and improve specialized training in the field of library. Great cultural capacities within China can help provide Iranian researchers valuable information while an understanding of Iranian culture and civilization by the Chinese society can lead to the development of mutual cultural exchanges,� Salehi-Amiri said.
The Chinese delegation will also visit historical sites in Shiraz and Isfahan besides the Majlis Library and the Museum and Documentation Center in Tehran. A memorandum of understating is expected to be signed between the National library of China and the University of Tehran�s central library.

By Financial Tribune