TEHRAN - About 60,000 Chinese tourists travel to Iran each year, China’s ambassador to Tehran said on Tuesday, highlighting efforts to expand cultural and scientific exchanges between the two countries.

During a visit to the University of Mazandaran, Ambassador Zhong Peiwu said tourism was a valuable opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.

“The exchange of professors and students, collaboration in artificial intelligence, and support for knowledge-based companies are key pillars for advancing our scientific partnership with Iranian universities,” Zhong was quoted as saying.

He added that the Chinese Embassy in Tehran was working to simplify visa issuance for students and tourists to promote people-to-people exchanges and broaden cooperation.

Zhong also referred to Persian language education programs in China and Chinese language courses at the University of Mazandaran. “Promoting language and cultural education in both countries will help strengthen our ties,” he said.

In 2019, Tehran waived visa requirements for Chinese nationals in a bid to attract more tourists.

AM