Under the slogan "From the Origins of Civilizations to Perceptions of the Future", the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization organized the activities of “Dialogue between the Civilizations of Ancient Cities (Cairo – Hangzhou)”, in cooperation with the Arts Department and the International Communication Department of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Institute of Cultural Development and Communication of the China University of Communications.
The event came within the framework of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the People's Republic of China, with the participation of an elite group of officials, diplomats, researchers and experts from the two countries, reflecting the status of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization as an international platform for cultural dialogue and civilizational exchange.
In his opening remarks, Dr. El-Tayeb Abbas, CEO of the Museum Authority, emphasized that hosting this event reflects the museum's growing role in promoting dialogue among civilizations and consolidating the values of understanding and cultural exchange among peoples. He noted that the Egyptian and Chinese civilizations represent pioneering models of human creativity and cultural communication throughout history. He also stressed the importance of expanding areas of cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of heritage, antiquities and museums, in a way that contributes to exchanging experiences, transferring knowledge and enhancing awareness of common human heritage.
For his part, Mr. Zhang Yaqiang, Deputy Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Egypt, expressed his happiness at participating in the forum, stressing that dialogue among civilizations represents a fundamental pillar for promoting rapprochement and understanding among peoples. He pointed out that Egyptian-Chinese relations are witnessing continuous development in various fields, and that cultural cooperation constitutes one of the main axes of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The forum witnessed wide participation from academics, researchers and specialists in the fields of civilization, antiquities and museums from both the Egyptian and Chinese sides, as its sessions discussed a number of topics related to the origins of the Egyptian and Chinese civilizations and their historical development, and the similarities and convergences between them, in addition to joint experiences in preserving cultural heritage and managing archaeological sites and museums. Discussions also addressed the role of museums in disseminating knowledge and enhancing community awareness of heritage, and the importance of employing modern technologies to protect cultural heritage and make it available to future generations.
On the sidelines of the forum, the two sides opened an accompanying exhibition that reviewed aspects of the Egyptian and Chinese civilizations, and highlighted the historical and cultural ties between the two countries through a group of photos, documentation materials and introductory presentations that highlighted the most important heritage sites, civilizational achievements and cultural projects in the two countries.
The events concluded with a program for cultural exchange and intangible heritage, which included artistic, musical and folkloric performances, in addition to presenting examples of traditional Egyptian and Chinese cuisine, in a scene that reflected the richness and diversity of the cultural heritage of the two countries, and emphasized the role of culture as a bridge for communication, understanding and strengthening Egyptian-Chinese relations.
News source: Official page of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
