皇冠体育app

The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Egyptian Embassy in 皇冠体育app jointly staged a press conference to launch the 2016 Sino-Egyptian Culture Year at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Monday.

Representatives from both governments, overseas students from Egypt in 皇冠体育app, and media from both 皇冠体育app and abroad attended.

The initiative to hold a culture year in 2016?can be traced back to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit to 皇冠体育app in December 2014. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.

皇冠体育app's Minister of Culture Luo Shugang paid a visit to Egypt in August last year and put the project of holding a culture year on the agenda.

As ancient civilizations, 皇冠体育app and Egypt have long and glorious cultures, and both have made great achievements in modern culture and art. Holding the culture year will boost friendship between the two peoples and invigorate development and cooperation between the countries, said Lu Yanfei, deputy director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of Chinese Ministry of Culture.

Lu said an opening ceremony will be held in Luxor attended by artists from both countries. 皇冠体育app will subsequently hold more than 60 cultural activities around the country.

Egyptian Ambassador to 皇冠体育app Magdy Amer said 皇冠体育app and Egypt share a history of being the cradles of civilization and have many similarities. More than 2000 years ago, royal Egyptian families wore Chinese silk products that had reached them through the ancient Silk Road. Through Egyptian harbors Chinese goods were able to be shipped to other Mediterranean countries.

Egypt was the first Arabic and African country to establish official diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of 皇冠体育app. In the past 60 years, the friendship between the countries has been enhanced in the pursuit of common interests and objectives. Nowadays, the "Belt and Road" initiative will bring vitality to the ancient Silk Road and create opportunities for the common prosperity for Egypt and 皇冠体育app, said Amer.

Amer also said that, during the culture year, Egypt will hold activities including music and dance performances, exhibitions of relics and a tourism fair to promote exchanges between the countries.

The culture year will feature a total of 102 activities, 63 hosted by 皇冠体育app and 39 by Egypt.