Editor's note: Ma Lirong is director of the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies and a professor at Shanghai International Studies University. She is also director of the Ministry of Education's Research Center on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and editor-in-chief of New Silk Road Studies. The article reflects the authors' views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Ali Mazaheri, a renowned French-Iranian scholar of the Silk Road, wrote in his book The Silk Road: The History of Sino-Persian Cultural Exchange that the ancient Silk Road was far more than a trade route linking the East and the West; it was also a vital bridge connecting civilizations through exchanges and mutual learning.

For millennia, Chinese and Iranian civilizations have met and interacted along this ancient route, leaving a rich legacy of people-to-people exchanges, cultural exchanges and intellectual encounters.

Fifty-five years ago, China and Iran formally established diplomatic relations. Yet their interactions date back much further, with the two civilizations already connected through the ancient Silk Road.

As important participants in Silk Road exchanges, China and Iran gradually developed a spirit of mutual benefit, inclusiveness and cooperation – what can be described as the "Silk Road spirit." Rooted in centuries of interaction, this spirit has continued to inspire contemporary cooperation and mutual learning between the two civilizations.

From connectivity to deeper cooperation

Over recent years, China and Iran have continued to expand cooperation in economic and cultural fields, bringing new vitality to their longstanding Silk Road ties.

The establishment of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016 marked a new stage in bilateral relations. In 2021, the two countries signed the China-Iran Comprehensive Cooperation Plan, outlining cooperation in a wide range of areas. In 2023, the two sides issued a joint statement to further expand collaboration in economic, cultural, technological and other fields.

Today, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have become mutually reinforcing components of China-Iran relations.

Economic cooperation has provided a foundation for greater connectivity and created more opportunities for interaction between the two peoples. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Iran have advanced cooperation in transportation, logistics and infrastructure, drawing on their geographic advantages and historical connections.

Projects such as the Tehran-Hamedan-Sanandaj railway expansion, the electrification upgrade of the Tehran-Mashhad railway, and other railway cooperation initiatives have not only contributed to Iran's transportation development but also strengthened connectivity along the modern Silk Road.

The Yiwu-Qom China-Europe freight train route is another symbolic example. Since its launch in 2016, the route linking Yiwu in east China's Zhejiang Province and Qom in Iran has continued to expand cooperation. In July 2024, the Qom-Yiwu China-Europe freight train achieved full railway-based two-way operation, bringing a new dimension to a corridor that echoes the ancient Silk Road.

From caravans traveling along the historic Silk Road to today's railway networks, China-Iran cooperation not only connects markets and cities but also creates conditions for deeper exchanges between civilizations.

From cultural encounters to people-to-people bonds

In recent years, cultural exchanges have become an important driver of mutual understanding between China and Iran. The two countries have expanded cooperation in publishing, education, arts and cultural heritage, providing more opportunities for their peoples to learn about each other's history and traditions.

In publishing, China and Iran have developed various exchange mechanisms, including book fairs, cooperation between publishing houses, and the translation of literary works. Through book promotions, writers' dialogues and academic exchanges, the two countries have deepened interactions in literature, history and cultural studies.

At the 24th Beijing International Book Fair in 2017, Iran participated as the guest of honor, sending more than 100 publishers and writers to the event. In 2019, China participated as the guest of honor at the 32nd Tehran International Book Fair and hosted a series of cultural exchange activities. Such exchanges go beyond sharing knowledge. They help people from both countries better understand each other's cultural traditions and values.

Cultural heritage has also become a bridge connecting the two civilizations.

Against the backdrop of continued regional uncertainty and challenges to cultural heritage protection, 151 sets of precious artifacts from Iranian universities, museums and art institutions were displayed to Chinese audiences through exhibitions in several Chinese cities this year.

Meanwhile, Chinese museums also selected artifacts related to Persian culture from their own collections, highlighting the historical interactions between Chinese and Iranian civilizations along the Silk Road and allowing visitors to experience the depth of China-Iran cultural exchanges.

People-to-people exchanges have also expanded through growing cooperation between cities. Beijing and Tehran, Nanjing and Shiraz, Guangzhou and Gorgan are among the cities that have established friendly relations and carried out exchanges in areas including culture, education and tourism.

From economic cooperation to interactions among scholars, artists, students and ordinary people, these cross-border connections have continuously strengthened mutual understanding, deepened emotional connections and become an important link for closer people-to-people bonds.

As China and Iran mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, both sides can continue carrying forward the Silk Road spirit. By expanding people-to-people interactions and promoting dialogue among civilizations, China-Iran relations can provide a valuable example of how different civilizations can engage in equal exchanges and deepen mutual understanding. Such efforts will also contribute to the implementation of the China-proposed four global initiatives and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.