At Egyptian museum, Xi underlines importance of mutual learning among civilizations

President Xi Jinping stressed the need for China and Egypt to jointly promote equality, dialogue, mutual learning and inclusiveness between civilizations, making the remarks during a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum on Sept 2.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, toured the museum accompanied by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his wife, Entissar El-Sisi, as part of Xi’s state visit to Egypt.

The Grand Egyptian Museum stands within sight of the pyramids, bringing together some of the most important collections from ancient Egyptian civilization. Cultural exchanges between China and Egypt have flourished in recent years, from major exhibitions of ancient Egyptian artifacts in China to joint archaeological projects in Egypt.

El-Sisi and his wife extended a warm welcome to Xi and Peng upon their arrival at the museum. The two couples entered the exhibition halls together and posed for a photograph in front of the statue of Ramesses II before listening to an introduction to the museum and the history of ancient Egypt.

They viewed inscribed pillars, stone sculptures and temple spires before looking out from an observation deck toward the pyramids.

Xi and El-Sisi also visited the Tutankhamun Galleries, where they viewed precious artifacts including the pharaoh’s throne, golden mask and royal chariot.

The Chinese president noted that China and Egypt are both ancient civilizations and countries rich in world heritage, and that the two great civilizations have reached out and engaged with each other across time and space, and have continued to write new chapters in the enduring friendship between the two peoples.

He called on both sides to implement the Global Civilization Initiative and work together to promote inclusiveness and coexistence as well as exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, drawing greater strength from civilizations for building a community with a shared future for humanity.

El-Sisi thanked Xi for sending a congratulatory message on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in November last year.

He said ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations both embody the qualities of inclusiveness and coexistence amid diversity, which are highly consistent with the vision embodied in the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Xi.

Egypt stands ready to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China, promote mutual learning among civilizations and help make the world more harmonious and inclusive, the Egyptian president said.

The Chinese president concluded his two-day state visit to Egypt on the evening of Sept 2.

Contact the writers at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn