Iran Prioritises Expanding Cultural and Tourism Cooperation with China: Minister Salehi Amiri

Tehran, The Gulf Observer: Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri has reaffirmed that enhancing cultural exchanges and securing a greater share of China’s vast tourism market are key priorities in Iran’s tourism policy.

Salehi Amiri made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli on the sidelines of the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) held in Riyadh on Sunday.

Highlighting China’s significant position in the global tourism landscape, Salehi Amiri noted, “China sends more than 160 million tourists abroad annually and plans to increase this figure to 200 million.” He emphasised that Iran seeks to tap into this potential through targeted cooperation and cultural engagement.

The Iranian minister underscored the importance of tourist exchanges, joint cultural and exhibition events, and strengthened communication between the tourism sectors of both nations. He expressed confidence that closer Iran–China cooperation in tourism would not only enhance mutual understanding but also contribute to sustainable economic growth.

For his part, Minister Sun Yeli expressed appreciation for Iran’s support in the World Tourism Forum vote for China’s seat, and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to fostering deeper ties with Tehran.

“We believe that expanding cultural and tourism cooperation can strengthen relations between our two nations and elevate the level of economic interaction,” Sun said, noting that the friendly and strategic partnership between Iran and China provides a strong foundation for future collaboration.

The meeting highlighted both countries’ shared interest in leveraging tourism and cultural diplomacy as tools for building mutual trust, people-to-people connectivity, and long-term strategic cooperation.