The International Conference of the Cultural Interaction between China and Iran and the Belt and Road Initiative Held in Beijing

　　The fifth China-Iran academic conference: the international conference of the cultural interaction between China and Iran and the Belt and Road Initiative was held in Beijing on 4-5th September, 2017. The conference was organized by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Iranian Islamic Cultural Liaison Organization, and was held by Institute of World History, CASS. Mr. Fang Cai (vice president of Chinese Academy Social Sciences), Mr. HaramanSulejmani, Mr. Shunhong Zhang (director of Institute of World History, CASS) and Mr. Ali Askeri Haji (ambassador of Iranian Embassy in China) presented and addressed the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Yunfan Zhou (vice president of Bureau of International Cooperation, CASS). About 60 scholars and journalists from Iranian Academy of Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Institute of Modern International Relations, China Institute of International Studies, Shanghai Institute of International Studies, Gansu Academy of Social Sciences, Ningxia Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Beijing Foreign Studies University,  Northwest University of China, Southwest University, Ningxia University, University Of Anhui, Shanghai International Studies University, Xi'an International Studies University, Shanxi Normal University, Henan Normal University, People's Daily, CCTV, CRI and CSSN presented the conference. 

　　The conference covers a broad range of issues. The first four panels discussed subjects such as the formation and characters of the Iranian civilization, the similarity of Chinese and Iranian civilizations, cultural communication between China and Iran via the Silk Road, and the contribution of the Iranian civilization to world history. The fifth panel turns to contemporary issues and discussed the opportunity and challenge of the cooperation of China and Iran and the Belt and Road Initiative, how to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, shape compatible values and produce innovative mode of cultural communication. The conference aims to observe the reality from a historical perspective, collect wisdom and energy from history, and provide reference for the development of the relationship between China and Iran and the Belt and Road Initiative.