TEHRAN -- Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ahmad Masjed-Jamei and his Lebanese counterpart, Ghassan Salameh, signed an accord here on Saturday to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The ministers, during their meeting, agreed to boost mutual cooperation between the cultural and artistic institutions of the two countries and to conduct more intellectual and cultural product exchanges over the next two Iranian years (March, 2002-2004).

Salameh expressed hope that more Lebanese intelligentsia and writers would be able to participate in Iran's cultural fora and exhibits, especially in the fields of cinema, music, visual arts and tourism, IRNA reported.

Masjed-Jamei, for his part, described Salameh's visit to Tehran as a prelude to the expansion of cultural ties, saying the accord which they signed and meetings that may be arranged from time to time will pave the way for achieving the aforestated goal.

He said the annual Lebanon cultural week, the two countries' cooperation in various cultural arenas particularly in the field of the cinema, and the Iranian and Lebanese joint cooperation in various historical cities to promote their common cultural affinities were among the subjects of their agreement.

The Lebanese minister of culture arrived in Tehran Wednesday at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart. He left Tehran for Shiraz Thursday to visit a number of historical cites in that city.