On Monday in Tehran, a meeting took place between Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, the Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, and Fariddin Nasriev, the Ambassador of Tashkent to Tehran. During this meeting, the parties discussed opportunities to expand cultural and tourism interaction, as well as reviving the historical ties of the Silk Road and strengthening relations between the two states.
Salehi-Amiri noted that relations between Iran and Uzbekistan are based on the strong will and mutual interests of their heads of state, and that these ties have transformed into a common aspiration of both nations to develop bilateral relations in all spheres.
The Minister officially invited the Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan and the chairman of its tourism committee to visit Iran, presenting a package of ten practical areas for cooperation. He emphasized that the key responsibility for implementing the proposed roadmap lies with the ambassadors of the two countries, with the priority task being establishing direct contacts between private sector companies, holding groups, and reputable tourism agencies in Iran and Uzbekistan.
Furthermore, Salehi-Amiri highlighted the need to resolve visa-related issues and facilitate the creation of direct flights between the two countries, stating that both aspects will play a decisive role in increasing tourism exchange. He also called for the immediate establishment of a joint technical committee in Tehran and Tashkent to promote cooperation in the field of restoring historical buildings and reviving the cultural identity of the Silk Road.
In his remarks, the minister described the historical urban environment and architectural traditions of Bukhara and Samarkand as vivid examples of the shared heritage of the Eastern Islamic cultural sphere, noting that their architecture is reminiscent of the identity and character of Isfahan in Iran. He insisted that the commitment of the two countries should be formalized by a comprehensive and legally binding diplomatic memorandum of understanding.
Salehi-Amiri also mentioned the creation of a national integrated medical tourism system, which will provide a transparent and modern platform to showcase medical capabilities, treatment costs, organization of stays for foreign patients, and hotel services. He reported that after the official launch, this system will be available to relevant ministries of 'friendly countries,' including Uzbekistan.
For his part, Nasriev welcomed the proposed initiatives, emphasizing the deep historical and spiritual roots of the relationship between the peoples. He stated that 'the relationship between Tehran and Tashkent is based on centuries of intellectual and civilizational exchange,' adding that this common heritage serves as a foundation for expanding diplomatic ties under current conditions.
The ambassador noted that ongoing consultations between the leaders of the two countries contribute to expanding bilateral interaction in various fields. He also reported that last year Uzbekistan received 11 million international tourists, 23,000 of whom were from Iran.
