Signing of the Sister City Agreement between Khoy and Konya
The sister city agreement between Khoy and Konya was signed in a ceremony attended by municipal officials and representatives of the Asian Mayors Forum, where both sides emphasized the beginning of strategic and sustainable cooperation.
Sajjad Chehreara, Chairman of the Islamic City Council of Khoy, described the agreement as the starting point of broad interactions and stressed the need to turn it into practical programs in the fields of spiritual tourism, cultural heritage, urban management, and joint cultural activities. Referring to the shared legacy of Shams Tabrizi and Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi, he called this bond “born of love” and proposed the formation of joint working groups, regular meetings, and the drafting of a four-year cooperation plan. He also praised the ethical stance of Konya Municipality at the international level, particularly its support for the people of Gaza.
During the ceremony, Mustafa Ozbash, Deputy Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, considered this sisterhood an extension of the historical friendship between the two nations and emphasized the commitment of local administrators to strengthen relations and foster sustainable cooperation.
At the conclusion of the event, the urban and cultural cooperation agreement between the two cities was signed by the deputy mayors of Khoy and Konya. Under this agreement, both sides pledged to expand their collaboration in spiritual tourism, exchange of urban experiences, joint cultural activities, and the development of sustainable infrastructure. The agreement was evaluated as a successful example of urban and cultural diplomacy within the framework of the Asian Mayors Forum’s objectives.
The city of Khoy, with the mausoleum of Shams Tabrizi, and the city of Konya, with the mausoleum of Mawlana, are regarded as two major destinations on the spiritual tourism route of the Islamic world. This sisterhood is expected to pave the way for a new stage of sustainable cooperation between the urban administrations of the two countries.
