Bonds stronger than modern tech. connect Iran, Japan

Deputy-foreign minister has addressed a joint Iran-Japan event dubbed “Women, Peace and Sustainable Development” on Monday.

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi attended and addressed the symposium where Iran’s Deputy-President for Woman Affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi and Akie Abe, Japan’s first lady and wife to Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister on Monday morning in Tehran. “Sustainable development had brought about large-scale participation of women in all venues of social life; Japan and Iran’s cooperation focus on this side of the development; Japanese researchers and academicians have carried out significant body of research on Iran’s social and cultural developments where women figures have a towering presence,” Mr. Araghchi told the meeting. “Among them are notably Ms. Omiko Okada, who is a veteran researcher, followed by younger generation of researchers as Ms. Ayano Sasaki and Yuko Fujimoto, who have worked illustriously to translate into Japanese sublime Persian literary masterpieces as works of Sa’di, Nizami, Khayyam, and no less significant Firdausi’s ‘The Epic of Kings,’ and contemporary prose stylists such as Sadegh Hedayat, Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh, and Jalal Ale-Ahmad,” he emphasized.

Araghchi who served Foreign Ministry as ambassador to Tokyo in the past believed that Iran and Japan enjoyed a millennium of relations primarily in trade through the Silk Road, and hence cultural similarities between two nations; “despite being located in the two extremes of Asian continent, Iran and Japan are connected culturally through rich oriental culture which imparts the same hue to lives of both nations,” Araghchi asserted.

“Both countries cherish family life, support for the downtrodden and the administering of nemesis for the tyrants; the spirit of seeking justice was symbolized in Robin Hood-like rogues who stole from the rich to give to the poor in Iranian setting. In Japanese setting, the austere and highly disciplined Samurai came to the fore to serve the nation,” Araghchi told the meeting.

Deputy-FM said that Japan’s Shinzo Abe would soon arrive in Tehran to continue the regular political and diplomatic exchanges recently strengthened bilateral ties; “establishment of Iran-Japan joint cooperation council, signing of mutual investment deal, and other developments will open a new chapter in activating the dormant potentials of both nations,” he said.

“Our nations now are connected by stronger bonds than Japan’s exports of technological products, or Iran’s exports of petrochemical products; now other cultural bonds, ever-growing and long-standing as they are, link Iran and Japan; in 2030 Sustainable Development goals, Iran and Japan will have another chance to work for better world; against weapons of mass destruction and peace-promoting efforts will be provided with both nations experiences of war and displacement,” Araghchi said. “I am confident that Iranian women will join their Japanese counterparts in attempts to promote peace and friendship in a millennial age of modernity, and Ms. Abe’s visit now indicates the fact clearly.”