Pakistan, Spain Agree to Expand Cooperation in Culture and Heritage

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 5: Pakistan and Spain on Wednesday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in culture, heritage preservation, archaeology, museums, literature, education and cultural diplomacy during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Spanish Ambassador to Pakistan Carlos Aragón Gil de la Serna.

During the meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing longstanding friendly relations through greater cultural engagement and institutional collaboration.

Welcoming the ambassador, Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said Pakistan highly values its historic ties with Spain and is keen to expand cooperation in heritage conservation, archaeological research, museum development, literary exchanges, cultural festivals and academic partnerships. He described culture as a vital bridge for promoting mutual understanding and strengthening people-to-people contacts.

The minister recalled his visit to Barcelona and praised Spain’s rich cultural heritage, hospitality and architectural excellence. He also acknowledged the positive contribution of the Pakistani community living in Spain in strengthening bilateral relations.

Referring to the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural, Educational and Scientific Cooperation, Khichi emphasized the need to further enhance institutional exchanges, academic collaboration, student and expert exchanges, and the promotion of cultural activities.

Highlighting the literary links between the two countries, he noted that the poetry and philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal enjoy significant recognition in Spain. He proposed greater cooperation among universities, libraries and cultural institutions to promote Iqbal studies, literary exchanges and translation projects.

The minister also invited Spain to collaborate in archaeological surveys, heritage conservation, museum development, restoration of historical sites and professional capacity-building, particularly in preserving Pakistan’s Gandhara and Buddhist heritage.

To further institutionalize cooperation, he proposed negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural and Heritage Cooperation covering joint archaeological projects, museum exchanges, specialized training, cultural festivals, art exhibitions, literary translations and academic partnerships.

He invited Spain to participate in the Ministry’s annual Lok Mela cultural festival by showcasing its traditional cuisine, music, dance, handicrafts and other cultural attractions. The minister also invited the ambassador to visit the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) to explore opportunities for artistic collaboration.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Carlos Aragón Gil de la Serna appreciated Pakistan’s rich cultural and historical heritage and reaffirmed Spain’s interest in expanding cooperation in culture, archaeology, heritage preservation, museums, education and literary exchanges.

The ambassador highlighted Spain’s Islamic heritage and UNESCO-recognized historical sites, noting that Spanish scholars are translating the philosophical works of Allama Muhammad Iqbal into Spanish, reflecting his enduring intellectual connection with Spain.

He also praised Pakistan’s Gandhara civilization after visiting museums in Peshawar and Taxila, admired Lahore’s traditional kite-flying culture, and appreciated the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) for promoting the Spanish language in Pakistan.

During the meeting, Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Asad Rehman Gillani informed the ambassador that Islamabad will host an International Writers’ Conference and invited Spanish writers and literary figures to participate. He also invited the ambassador to visit the Gandhara Gallery at the Islamabad Museum.

Both sides agreed to remain in close contact and translate the proposals discussed into practical initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation, expanding institutional linkages and further deepening the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Spain.