Tehran hosting Chinese Cultural Wee .

TEHRAN,Sept.25(MNA) -- Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center is playing host to Chinese Cultural Week, which was inaugurated here on Thursday evening and attended by several Chinese and Iranian cultural figures.

Chinese ambassador to Iran Yu Hongyang and Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) officials Alireza Esmaeili and Mohammadreza Dehshiri were among the participants at the opening ceremony.

Esmaeili, who made the opening speech, referred to the enduring cultural ties between the two countries and said that bilateral relations date back to over 2500 years ago.

He expressed hope that Iran will be holding its cultural week in China next year.

Yu Hongyang next talked about the photo exhibit in which over 300 photos are on display illustrating Iran-China cultural achievements.

This cultural week includes a variety of programs such as martial arts, exhibitions of traditions and costumes as well as handicrafts, the ambassador said.

Dehshiri said that ICRO is ready to provide the facilities for academics to conduct joint research, academic exchange and cultural relations.

Pointing to the Silk Road as the main route for commercial trade, he said that it helped develop cultural relations as well.

Dehshiri also announced that both countries signed an agreement in which five Chinese books will be translated into Persian and five Persian into Chinese every year.

Several programs are arranged for the week including performances by Chinese artists at the Rudaki Hall.