Ong Keng Yong was speaking in a meeting at the National Museum of Iran which was attended by Deputy Director of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) Mohammad Hassan Talebian, Iran's Ambassador to Singapore Javad Ansari and the Director of Museum of Ancient Iran Jebrael Nokandeh.

The meeting focused on topics of mutual interest in the cultural and tourism domains, including developing an Iranian studies center at Singapore's Asian Civilizations Museum, establishing tourism consortium between Iran and ASEAN, presence of Singaporean investors in Iran's tourism industry, setting up a joint tourism committee and holding cultural weeks in both countries, Mehr News Agency reported.

Talebian touched upon the appropriate level of relations and common cultural affinities between the two nations and elaborated on the historical items of the National Museum of Iran. He expressed Iran's readiness to hold joint museum exhibitions both in Iran and in Singapore.

Yong highlighted the need to expand cultural ties between the two countries, adding that he will discuss these topics with relevant Singaporean authorities.