The role of the Persian literature in expanding the cultural and diplomatic ties between Iran and Vietnam was discussed at a seminar held in Hanoi on May 27 by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam.

Iranian Ambassador Alvandi Behineh said that Iran and Vietnam set up their diplomatic ties in 1973, but their potential for cooperation has yet to be tapped fully.

Mutual understanding of each other’s language and literature is useful to develop cooperation in culture and boost the exchange between intellectuals and peoples, he added.

According to VASS Vice President Pham Van Duc, the bilateral cultural and literature ties have recorded positive developments. Previously Persian literature was translated into Vietnamese through a third language, but the country now has some translators who work directly in Persian.

Some major Persian works have been published in Vietnam recently, including a collection of ancient Persian poems published in 2011 and a collection of Persian fable poems published in 2012. Works by the great poet Saadi Shirazi have also been introduced to Vietnamese literary researchers on the special issue of the Literature Research Magazine in March this year.-VNA