Some 350,000 people attended the 15th International Exhibition of Press and News Agencies in Tehran, organizers said on November 23 as the exhibition came to a close.

The annual exhibition was open to the public from November 16 to 22. Some 470 Iranian publications and news agencies as well as media organizations from 27 foreign countries attended the event. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the booths of Iranian media on November 23.

Officials told Beijing Review an estimated 40,000 visitors attended the exhibition every day. On Friday, which was a public holiday in Iran, the number of visitors totaled some 50,000.

The participation of the Iranian people in the exhibition shows that they are interested in news and journalism and that they are not indifferent about the portrayal of their country and world events, said Hossein Sa'afar Harandi, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, at a press conference shortly before the exhibition ended.

In particular, young people took the opportunity to learn about international journalism, he added.

The weeklong press fair drew visitors from all walks of life, including media professionals, teachers, engineers and businesspeople. College and high school students poured into the fair in legions.

(Reporting from Tehran)