Russia plans to hold cultural exchanges with Islamic world countries

KAZAN. May 15 (Interfax) - Russia plans to conduct cultural exchanges with countries of the Islamic world, including Iran, Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Tunisia, and Indonesia, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said.

"The Russian Seasons large-scale cultural project is being carried out for the first time in Middle East countries this year in the line with the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin. We also plan to hold cultural exchanges with Iran, Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Tunisia, and Indonesia," Lyubimova said at the plenary session of culture ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member countries, titled 'Dialogue of Cultures as Basis for Preserving Identify and Diversity in Multipolar World'.

"There will be unprecedentedly large exchanges in the [Commonwealth of Independent States] CIS format with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan," she said.

"Islamic countries are actively developing today, making significant achievements in trade, the finance sector, innovations, and applied scientific research," Lyubimova said.

"Russia is open to the broadest possible business and humanitarian cooperation and is interested in strengthening existing ties and gaining new partners," she said.

Great attention is being given to major Muslim countries' accession to BRICS, she said.

"We count on their active participation in cultural events within this group," Lyubimova said.

"On our part, we are ready to use the entire potential of Russian culture that includes around 3,500 museums, more than 60 theaters, more than 42,000 libraries in total, and nearly 100,000 cultural establishments across our immense country," she said.