Jannati: Silk Road Expo highlights Iran's pivotal role in its revival

Ali Jannati further told IRNA that the event provides a chance to familiarize all participating countries with the past and present of the Silk Road and this would help in its revival.

The international gathering, he said, provides an opportunity to promote cooperation in the cultural and media fields as well as in the economic sphere.

He said the gathering further served to bring further closer all the countries located along the ancient route.

Jannati recalled that he had proposed the establishment of a joint new agency exclusive to Silk Road topics which was welcomed by his Chinese counterpart.

The event was attended by 95 delegations from 85 countries in addition to five international organizations and 66 foreign companies.

Jannati arrived in China on Monday to attend the Silk Road International Cultural Expo at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart.

Many cultural experts view the event, which began on September 20, as a professional gathering in the area of culture.

The two-day cultural expo was held in the city of Dunhuang, in northwest China, with participation of senior cultural officials, ministers of culture and cultural experts from countries located along the Silk Road.

The Silk Road or Silk Route is an ancient network of trade routes that were central to cultural interaction through regions of Asia connecting the West and East.

During his stay in the city, Jannati conferred with a number of his counterparts.

Addressing the event, he stressed that the international community should tackle extremism and radicalism to restore peace and tranquility.