A statue of Cao Xueqin, author of the "Dream of the Red Chamber", one of Chinese literature's Four Great Classical Novels, has been unveiled at Jahan Nama Garden in Shiraz, Iran. 

Nanjing donated the statue to its sister-city in Iran. Wu Weishan, an internationally renowned sculptor and now the Director of the National Art Museum of China, created the 2.6-m-tall statue, similar to the one at the Jiangning Imperial Silk Manufacturing Museum. 

Shiraz is an ancient city of literature and culture, and Nanjing was once the ancient capital of six dynasties and a City of Literature recognized by UNESCO. The two cities inked sisterhood agreement in 2018. 

In a video speech, Yang Xuepeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee and executive vice mayor of Nanjing, said that the two cities have deepened their friendly exchanges. Yang also expected both sides to embrace the principles of openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning in exchanges and contribute to the ties of the two countries.  

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