Iran’s ambassador to Tajikistan Hojjatollah Faghani met Tajik culture minister on Thursday in Dushanbe and delivered a written message from Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati inviting his Tajik counterpart to attend the 28th Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF).

During the meeting the Tajik minister Shamsuddin Arom Beig Zadeh Shadi expressed hope to extend cultural cooperation with the Islamic republic of Iran.

Touching upon numerous historic and cultural ties between the two nations Arom Beig Zadeh Shadi urged Iranian ambassador to initiate more bilateral relations.

Tajik minister of culture and Iranian ambassador to Dushanbe continued their meeting with arranging considerations for Tajik writers’ presence in TIBF and making plans for meeting book needs of Tajik academic centers.

Iran was the best foreign participant in the 4th International Book Fair of Tajikistan in 2004 with 6 stand modules representing Iranian book publishers.

The 28th Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF) will be inaugurated in May 6 in Imam Khomeyni's Grand Mosalla.

Last year, Some 600 foreign publishers from Germany, France, Turkey, Japan, Lebanon, Syria, China, Qatar, and several other countries presented nearly 160,000 of their latest publications at the event.

Over 2500 domestic and 1700 foreign publishers attend the exhibition and more than 5 million people visit the fair every year.

Tehran International Book Fair is annually held as a social and cultural phenomenon with book displays, panel discussions and publishing deals.

The Fair is considered the most significant event of its kind in Asia and the Middle East and a significant venue for publishers and book lovers to exchange opinions and experiences.

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IRN/81591336