Mr. Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh, Ambassador and Abdolmajid Abolghasemi, Cultural Counselor of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Philippines, with Mr. "Victorino Mapa Manalo", President of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines (Ministry of Culture) on Wednesday, Month of Aban 24, 1402, corresponding to November 15, 2023, in the ceremonial hall of the theater of the Philippines met and discussed.

 

The Iranian delegation, while expressing its satisfaction with this meeting, which was held with the presence of the officials of the international programs department of this commission, considered the holding of such meetings as a factor in strengthening and expanding the relations between the two Asian countries.

 

Further, Mr. Esmaeil Zadeh expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the cooperation of the President of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines in creating a platform for the signing of the exchange program of cultural cooperation, which took place after almost twelve years during his trip to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and expressed his hope that he fond good memories of Iran would remain with him.

While referring to the agreements made during this trip, which were discussed in the meeting with the President of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the head of the Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications, he announced the readiness of the Islamic Republic to implement the provisions of the cultural exchange program between the two countries. In the continuation of the both parties regarding the issues of holding special cultural events on the occasion of the 60th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries, such as holding the Cultural Week of the I.R.Iran in the Philippines and vice versa, making arrangements for the presence of Filipino officials and publishers as special guests of the Tehran International Book Fair in Year 1403, coordination to send a group of media people, press, influencers and cultural tourists to visit the tourist attractions and developments of Iran, to make arrangements for the travel of documentary makers in order to present real images of the two countries to the public opinion, holding film weeks in the two countries, preparing and setting the stage for the presence of producers and exporters of Iranian cultural products in the Philippines, exchanging art groups and participating in international festivals of the two countries, preparing to accept art groups and Filipino artists to attend Fajr International Festivals in the field of film, music and theater in the Islamic Republic of Iran, holding photo exhibitions on the history of Iranian civilization in the Philippines, finalizing and announcing the readiness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on library cooperation between the two countries in early December by the National Library of the Philippines. They exchanged views on the conclusion of a memorandum of cooperation between the National Museums of the two countries, Iran and the Philippines.

 

Then Mr. Manalo, President of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the warm hospitality and valuable programs that were prepared during his stay in Iran and expressed his hope to sign the exchange program document would be effective in the development and consolidation of cultural and artistic relations and cooperation between the two countries. He continued to consider the implementation of the proposed proposals as possible and confirmed the need for the exchange of media members and added that, regarding the exchange of movies, free interactions between men and women in our movies should be taken into consideration, which may not be compatible with the cultural issues of Iran. Mr. Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh, while accepting this consideration, added that social and family-oriented films could be selected.

Regarding the exchange of artistic groups, Mr. Manalo also announced his readiness to send one of the Filipino violin soloists to perform in the Iran Symphony Orchestra group and vice versa to welcome a music artist in the Philippine Symphony Orchestra group. He also announced his readiness to display the original works of Filipino artists in that museum considering his visit to Iran's Museum of Contemporary Arts.

 

Then Mr. Abdolmajid Abolghasemi, Cultural Counselor, referring to the long history of diplomatic and cultural relations between Iran and the Philippines, expressed his satisfaction with the visit of the President of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines to Iran to sign the cooperation document and expressed that we hope that by signing this document, the growing cultural cooperation should be further strengthened with the aim of increasing the mutual understanding of the people of the two countries about each other more than ever before.

In the following, he discussed matters related to the development of the export of Iran's cultural products and the provision of special facilities for holding markets and exhibitions for the supply and sale of Iran's cultural-artistic and handicraft products, including facilities such as exhibition halls, booths, accommodation spaces, hospitality areas, and more.

While thanking each other, Mr. Manalo stated that the laws and regulations related to the entry of foreign cultural-artistic goods into this country are very strict and require to be carefully examined. In the following, the Cultural Counselor announced his readiness regarding the presence of Iranian traditional music groups in international festivals in the Philippines and vice versa, which Mr. Manalo said, as stated, we prefer to send only one of the violinists to perform in the Iran Symphony Orchestra, but you can send a music group of four to six people to this country and we welcome them, Mr. Abolghasemi, while re-emphasizing the provisions of the cultural exchange program, stressed the need for cooperation in various cultural and artistic matters and added, regarding the holding of the Film Week, it was decided at the beginning In the 60th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries, from February 5 to 11, 2024, from Bahman 16 to 22, 1402, in cooperation with the CCP Cultural Center, seven selected films of Iranian cinema will be shown, and in this regard, a revised version has been sent to this cultural center in the Philippines.

Also, Mr. Abolghasemi, regarding the announcement of the preparation and agreements made for the holding of the Cultural Week of Iran in the Philippines and vice versa in 1403, the subject of holding the Cultural Week and the visit of the Honorable Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Honorable Head of the organization to the Philippines for the next year proposed to the Minister of Culture of the Philippines, who replied that there is a readiness and interest to hold a joint cultural event on the occasion of Philippine Independence Day in June of next year during the month of Khordad.

The Cultural Counselor of our country acknowledged that due to your excellency's visit to some Iranian museums and your interest in cooperation between the national museums of the two countries, a draft memorandum of cooperation between the national museums has been prepared and will be sent to you as soon as possible.

 

In the end, it was decided that in order to follow up on the matters raised in this meeting and the cultural and artistic affairs of interest of the two countries, the necessary communication with the officials of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of Philippines will be continued.

 

At the end, gifts were exchanged between the ambassador of our country and Mr. Manalo, the President of National Commission for Culture and the Arts of Philippines.