China launches salon in Cairo to promote mutual cultural understanding

The Chinese cultural Center in Egypt's capital Cairo launched on Thursday a monthly cultural salon dubbed "China in The Eyes of Egyptians."

The salon aims to bring Egyptian and Chinese cultures closer through personal experiences of Egyptian thinkers, experts and analysts who have been to China.

Speaking at The opening ceremony of The event, Shi Yuewen, cultural counselor of The Chinese Embassy in Cairo, said The salon will document and activate cooperation on folk and diplomatic levels in all cultural, social and economic fields.

The salon also aims to show The common cultural characteristics of The two peoples, including customs and traditions, Shi added.

"It also works to focus on sustainable cultural projects between The Chinese and Egyptian communities and highlight The strength and weaknesses points of Egyptian and Chinese cultural relations in an attempt to improve relations and address weaknesses," he noted.

According to The Chinese official, The salon will serve as a new window to identify China in a clear and fair manner "that shows The true China in The eyes of The Egyptians."

Al-Sawy Al-Sawy, general supervisor of The cultural salon, said The salon will hold a monthly symposium, hosting a prominent figure who has a vision and interest in Chinese affairs and Egyptian-Chinese relations.

The salon will discuss "The important cultural and artistic features of The Egyptian and Chinese peoples and The culture of The markets in The two countries and provides an overview of China's rise in fields of technology and industry," Al-Sawy noted.

The first symposium of The salon hosted Mahmoud Allam, adviser to Egyptian minister of Transport for International Relations and a former Egyptian ambassador to China.

The seminar, entitled "A Journey in China's History and The Lessons Learned from The Experience of Building Modern China," discussed how contemporary Chinese identity has helped China's rise.

The seminar discussed The secret of The awakening of modern China, introducing The Chinese experience since 1949 and what it has achieved so far.

Allam linked various historical periods togeTher, from The imperial families, China's resistance to foreign occupation, The liberation war, The founding of The People's Republic of China to The current China dream.

He also dealt with The impact of history on Chinese culture and The political and economic orientations of China to achieve its modern rise.

Since The upgrading of relations between China and Egypt to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, cultural exchange has been at its peak as demonstrated by frequent mutual visits between artists as well as cultural and musical delegations.

Both countries hope to boost friendly ties through The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which has promoted deeper understanding between The two countries and woken up The ancient civilization in The new era.

Proposed by China in 2013, The Belt and Road Initiative refers to The Silk Road Economic Belt and The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa through The ancient trade routes of The Silk Road.