The Iranian city of Khoy, resting place of the renowned mystic Shams Tabrizi, and Konya in Turkey, home to the tomb of the celebrated poet Rumi, have formalized a sister-city partnership within the framework of the Asian Mayors Forum (AMF). This agreement opens a new chapter in cultural exchange, spiritual tourism, and urban collaboration between Iran and Turkey.
According to ISNA, the signing ceremony took place in Konya following a joint meeting of the Iran-Turkey Friendship Group in Khoy. The initiative, facilitated by the Asian Mayors Forum and at the invitation of Konya’s mayor, brought together officials from both cities along with AMF representatives.
The memorandum was signed by Bahman Reza-Nejad, Deputy Mayor of Khoy, and Mustafa Ozbash, Deputy Mayor of Konya. The two cities committed to enhancing cooperation in spiritual tourism, sharing urban experiences, conducting joint cultural programs, and developing sustainable urban infrastructure.
A delegation from Khoy City Council, led by Council President Sajad Chehreh-Ara and accompanied by Mohammadreza Piri, head of the Cultural and Tourism Commission, participated in the official meeting in Konya with representatives from the Asian Mayors Forum to finalize the sister-city agreement with Konya officials.
At the meeting, both sides emphasized their shared spiritual heritage—Shams Tabrizi and Jalaluddin Rumi—established joint specialized working groups and developed a four-year cooperation plan. With the formal signing of the agreement, this plan has now moved into the execution phase.
The Khoy-Konya agreement serves as a notable example of urban and cultural diplomacy within the framework of the Asian Mayors Forum and is set to strengthen continuous collaboration between the two cities’ municipal administrations.
