China, Egypt draw up targeted mode of culture exchange

The cultural common points between China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and the Arabic world will provide better opportunities to strengthen Sino-Arabic ties and promote development in various aspects, according to an Egyptian cultural official in Yinchuan on Wednesday.

Growing popularity of the Chinese language in Egypt has boomed local tourism. A professional tour conductor with Chinese fluency will better serve the Chinese visitors and guide them to learn much about the culture of Egypt, said Kamelia Sobhi, from Egyptian Ministry of Culture, in a keynote speech at the China-Arab States Cultural Industry Development and Cooperation Forum.

The Egyptian government always attaches importance to cultural and academic exchanges between the two countries. "After the new government was founded, we are planning to build our first overseas culture center in China and hope that it would benefit the mutual cooperation in economy and culture in the future," she added.

Meanwhile, Sobhi praised the Sino-Egyptian cultural exchange projects over the past years, such as the Egypt Chinese Art Week in 2009.

She appealed for strengthening of education of women. "China has achieved great progress in this regard, but the Arabian countries should make more efforts to improve female social status."

However, Sobhi presented challenges for the development of culture exchanges between the two countries.

Firstly, more chances for the Egyptian people to acquire an in-depth knowledge of China, not only about economy and industry, but also about culture and tourism.

Then, China and Egypt both boast diverse civilizations, culture heritages and geographical features. The governments should draw up a more targeted and comprehensive mode of culture exchange.

Besides, she also hoped that the two countries could join hands to crack down the illegal transactions of culture heritages and works.

The China-Arab States Cultural Industry Development and Cooperation Forum kicked off Wednesday in Yinchuan, the capital of the country's only provincial-level autonomous region for the Hui ethnic group.

With Sino-Arabic cultural cooperation and development as its main theme, this professional forum was established for the first time since the China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum started in 2010.

More than 30 domestic and overseas officials, experts from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Thailand, Malaysia attended the event.

The 3rd China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, also known as the China (Ningxia) International Investment and Trade Fair, is scheduled for Sept. 12 to 16 in Yinchuan.