[caption id="attachment_92462" align="alignright" width="244"] Flags of Iran & Russia[/caption]

Noushahr, March 14, IRNA - Cultural and tourism cooperation will be increased between the northern province of Mazandaran and Russian port city of Astrakhan, a provincial official said on Saturday.

Talking to IRNA, head of Mazandaran Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Delavar Bozorgnia said the ways for expansion of mutual cooperation have been discussed with Russian officials during the recent visit of Iranian provincial visit to Astrakhan.


Last month, a delegation, headed by provincial Governor General Rabie Falah traveled to Astrakhan aimed at surveying the ways for expansion of cultural cooperation.

Bozorgnia also stressed that Iran and Russia have signed an agreement according to which direct flight between Sari, the capital city of Mazandaran Province, and Astrakhan is to be established in May.

The direct flight is expected to give a boost to relations between these two strategic regions of Iran and Russia.

Last year, over 2,000 Russian tourists from Astrakhan visited Sari.

The number of visitors is expected to rise with the launch of the direct flight.

By IRNA