TEHRAN -- Iran’s cultural attaché in China has held talks with the director of the country’s Center of International Cultural Exchange (CICE) Xi Jianglin with regards to the establishment of cultural centers in both countries.

Director Xi Jianglin gave some details about the regulations for establishing centers outside China, saying that such institutions are non-profit making and are run either by diplomats or non-diplomatic figures.
She went on to say that the CICE is involved in establishing libraries and holding workshops and exhibitions, adding, “None of the center’s activities, which are usually educational, are profit making, and students pay low fees which just cover the teachers’ salaries. Books are tax-exempt and sold at the price printed on the covers.”
She continued that the first step in launching a joint project is for Iran’s embassy in China to submit an official letter to the CICE. An agreement will be signed after the necessary administrative processes have been completed in both countries.
“Cultural centers are established first in the capital, but several branches can be opened in other cities in the future,” she explained.
China has established cultural centers in Egypt, France, South Korea and its center in Germany will open in 2008. France, Germany and Spain have already set up cultural centers in China, she concluded.