"Heart to heart, in order to inherit the spirit of the Silk Road"  --Celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the opening ceremony of the Iranian National Pavilion   China and Iran, both ancient civilizations with rich histories, have enjoyed friendly exchanges for more than 2 millennia. The intertwining of their civilizations throughout the ages has contributed to the fascinating narrative of human history. Iran is an important partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative. In recent years, the frequent high-level interactions between the two countries have deepened their relations. Especially in 2023, the leaders of both countries met twice, jointly witnessing the signing of numerous bilateral cooperation agreements spanning agriculture, trade, tourism, environmental protection, healthcare, disaster relief, culture, and sports fields. On the evening of February 6th, 2024, the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the opening ceremony of the Iranian National Pavilion were held in Guangzhou. The Consul General of Iran in Guangzhou, Hosseinali Darvishi Motevalli, Deputy Director of Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, Ye Zhenqin, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress, Tang Hanghao, consuls general from various countries in Guangzhou, as well as Chinese and foreign friends from the economic and trade, cultural and other fields attended the event. Consul General Darvishi expressed in his speech at the reception, "Iran is one of the world's oldest civilizations, having experienced continuous changes and transformations throughout its rich history." He emphasized Iran's steadfast commitment to a foreign policy rooted in peace, justice, reason, and independence, with China holding a prominent position within Iran's diplomatic framework. "The reciprocal visits of high-level delegations and the unwavering determination of our leaders have ushered in the formation of a brilliant and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China. Both countries share numerous common interests and perspectives in bilateral, regional, and international arenas, laying the foundation for strengthened mutual understanding and respect." Consul General Darvishi expressed his anticipation for the Consulate General to continue building bridges between the two countries' enterprises and peoples in economic, cultural, and technological cooperation. He hopes to further expand cooperation, serve as a link, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. In his address, Deputy Director Ye Zhenqin of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress conveyed sincere greetings and congratulations to Consul General Darvishi and all Iranian friends working, studying, and living in Guangdong. "In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, China-Iran relations have made significant progress and achieved fruitful results," he stated. "The year 2023 was a year of high-level development for China-Iran relations, during which both sides reached a series of important consensus, setting the direction for achieving more outcomes in the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Iran." With Iran's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, while China continues to maintain its position as Iran's largest trading partner, both sides are fully implementing the important consensus reached by the two leaders, promoting deeper development in various fields of exchange and cooperation. Ye Zhenqin expressed Guangdong's willingness to work together with Iran under the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Iran and the Belt and Road Initiative to promote connectivity and create a better future. Subsequently, Consul General Darvishi and Deputy Director Ye Zhenqin, along with all the attendees, jointly cut a celebration cake symbolizing good wishes and expectations. This event also marked the official opening of the Iranian National Pavilion, serving as a key gateway for Iran to promote foreign trade, attract investment, and engage in social and cultural exchanges in China. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1971, China and Iran have weathered various international storms and changes and have travelled a long time together. Faced with the complex situation of changes of the world, of our times and of history, the two countries have supported each other, united in cooperation, continuously strengthened strategic mutual trust, steadily promoted practical cooperation, promoted common interests, upheld international fairness and justice, and jointly composed a new chapter in China-Iran friendship. Consul General Darvishi of Iran in Guangzhou told reporter from Outlook New Era that China-Iran relations have a history of more than 2,000 years, and the people of both countries have always attached great importance to and actively engaged in exchanges and cooperation. In order to inherit and develop the valuable wealth left by their predecessors and continue the solid traditional friendship, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016. Through two meetings between the leaders of the two countries in 2023, "important consensus was reached in regional cooperation, multilateral cooperation, and international cooperation.” In July 2023, Iran officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and in August 2023, Iran officially joined the BRICS cooperation mechanism. "In the last few years, Iran and China have engaged in excellent cooperation on the international stage. We have a common voice in opposing unilateralism, and we are making every effort to achieve peace and stability," stated Consul General Darvishi. "For many years, China has been Iran's largest trading partner. We hope that in the future, our two countries can effectively play a greater role in trade cooperation. Iran can serve as a supplier of petrochemicals, minerals, and other raw materials for China, while many Chinese enterprises are also supplying household appliances, automotive parts, and other products to Iran. Going forward, China could consider leveraging Iran’s strategic location as a hub for re-exporting Chinese products to other countries, facilitating the transit of Chinese products to global markets." Consul General Darvishi told reporters that among this ceremony, Iran will launch its second Iranian National Pavilion on online platforms, bringing Iranian products to Chinese consumers and allowing them to enjoy better quality at lower prices. He also hopes to achieve more in-depth cooperation with China through the 6th Export Potential Exhibition of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which will be held in April, continuing to fully demonstrate the core essence of the Belt and Road Initiative. As the Chinese New Year of the Dragon approaches, Consul General Darvishi also extends New Year blessings to the Chinese people through Outlook New Era: "Wishing everyone a happy New Year, good health, and family reunion! Wish our both countries long-lasting friendship, and we sincerely welcome Chinese friends to Iran!" A Persian proverb says, "Between hearts, there is a road." The friendly exchanges, mutual understanding, and close cooperation between the peoples of China and Iran are the best examples of this. In the new journey ahead, under the leadership of our leaders in diplomacy, China and Iran will continue to inherit and promote the spirit of the Silk Road, deepen mutual trust, and move forwards win-win cooperation through continued interaction. With a spirit as vibrant as the dragon and as vigorous as the tiger, let us contribute to the development of bilateral relations between China and Iran and to the prosperity and peace of the world!