TEHRAN, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- In a conference held in Tehran on Monday, the Islamic republic and Russia marked 515 years of relations between the two countries, official IRNA news agency reported.

Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Reza Salehi Amiri, hailed the high level of Iran-Russia politico-economic relations, urging for further expansion of cultural relations.

As a major step in cultural front, both countries should play an effective role in the campaign against the thought of extremism in the region, Salehi Amiri told the gathering.

The conference is an auspicious move at the time when the bilateral ties have reached a new strategic level, he said, describing the gathering as a suitable opportunity to promote new ties between the two countries.

Such a gathering will play an important role in bringing elites of the two states closer to each other, he was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Also, in a message to the conference, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for diversification of relations with Russia.

"Stronger ties between the two countries will contribute to peace and stability in Central Asia and the Middle East," Zarif said, according to Tasnim news agency.

Zarif said that the two neighbors should maintain broad relations and try to diversify and promote ties in all directions, adding that the conference could pave the way for closer cultural interaction and stronger links between the two peoples.

Attended by Russia's Ambassador to Tehran Levan Jagarian and Iran's envoy to Moscow Mahdi Sanai, the conference was held at the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Center for International Research and Education.