Feature: Ancient Silk Road-themed exhibition boosts Iran-China cultural exchanges

"The exhibition is very interesting as it features the fusion of the Chinese and Iranian cultures and their impacts on one another," Iranian visitor Shaqayeq Evaz-Zadeh told Xinhua.

TEHRAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The memories of and inspiration from the ancient Silk Road, a trade route stretching from East Asia to Europe, have provided an attractive platform for cultural exchanges between countries once connected by the route.

In one of the halls at the Malek National Library and Museum in the Iranian capital Tehran, flamboyant paintings among a series of exquisite works of art caught visitors' attention. Many visiting Iranians and Chinese were cordially communicating with each other.

Since Oct. 12, the exhibition, themed on the ancient Silk Road, features a selection of fine works of Chinese art and culture at the Malek National Library and Museum, marking the vigorous cultural exchanges between China and Iran.

The exhibition, which will continue until Nov. 10, presents paintings of Chinese artists, manuscripts of renowned Chinese authors, and ancient coins used in trade through the ancient Silk Road.

"The exhibition is very interesting as it features the fusion of the Chinese and Iranian cultures and their impacts on one another," Iranian visitor Shaqayeq Evaz-Zadeh told Xinhua.

"Iranian and Chinese people have had, since a very long time ago, very good relations with each other and share many cultural similarities," said Evaz-Zadeh, also a film and theater director.

Evaz-Zadeh mentioned that Iranian and Chinese poetry and traditions have many things in common, indicating timed-honored people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The works at the exhibition demonstrate trade relations between the two countries through the Silk Road, which also helped bring both peoples closer, she said. "Visiting the exhibition gave me a very good feeling, as I witnessed the proximity between the two cultures again."

Evaz-Zadeh also said she felt an amicable atmosphere at the exhibition, as she saw Iranian and Chinese visitors chatting with each other joyfully.

"Throughout history, Iran and China and their people have always had transactions, interactions and relations with one another," said Masoud Nikqalb, another Iranian visitor, adding that the works on display feature traditional styles and simplicity, "which is very interesting and making them more tangible to visitors."

A cinema and theater actor, Nikqalb said people from the two countries shared many cultural commonalities, particularly valuing families and respecting the elderly. "The artworks showcased at this exhibition gave me a sense of cultural proximity, as they convey the concepts shared between the two peoples."

Jebrael Nokandeh, director of the National Library and Museum, said the exhibition shows great potential for cooperation between the two countries' museums, voicing confidence that the event would help increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

He spoke highly of Chinese museums for their "very high standards" and various cooperation with their counterparts across the world, including the National Museum of Iran.

Nokandeh mentioned that Iran held an exhibition, titled "The Glory of the Ancient Persia," at Beijing's Palace Museum in January, and held the same show at the Shanghai Museum in June.

He called for expanding the "very good" cultural cooperation between Iran and China to further strengthen the bond between their peoples.