Cultural relations
Throughout history, cultural exchange has been one of the most important means of promoting relations between Egypt and China. Not only was the old Silk Route a vehicle for trade between the two countries, but it also played a cultural role in connecting them in the old times. At present, cultural exchange has replaced the Silk Route in cementing friendship and understanding between the two peoples.
In 1956, the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Society was established.
To date, 6 executive programs for cultural cooperation have been concluded.
Cultural cooperation has at present transcended the national to the local. In September 1990, the Chinese city of Chengdu held an art exhibition in Cairo. In October 1991, a celebration was held in Beijing marking the establishment of the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Society. In July 2002,an Egyptian cultural and historical week was held in China's International Park in Beijing; Egypt was also entered on the list of the most favored tourist sites for the Chinese people; paintings of Egyptian children also participated in the art festival held in the city of Tianjin in the north-west of China.
2005 has witnessed a great many cultural events, the most prominent of which were Egypt's participation in the Shanghai International Film Festival (June 10 – 20, 2005) and the Egyptian Cultural Week at the 7th International Art festival in Shanghai (October 18 – November 18, 2005).
Education
The first Chinese scholastic mission came to Egypt to study at al-Azhar al-Sharif in 1931. In 1932, a Royal Edict was signed by King Fouad I of Egypt establishing a special section for Chinese students at al-Azhar. His Majesty also presented a gift of 400 copies of the most valuable religious publications to China's Islamic School of Chengdu. Two Azhar scholars were also sent to the school to improve the standard of education provided to students there.
In the period from 1932 to 1941, Egyptian researchers in the various fields visited China, establishing links with the scientific and educational community there. This proved a solid foundation for cultural ties between the two countries after diplomatic ties were formalized in 1956.
In 1956, Egypt sent its first educational mission to China.
In December 1995, a protocol of cooperation in the field of education was concluded.
Egyptian-Chinese cooperation in the field of education boasts the presence of a mechanism for exchanging missions; cooperation between educational institutions; an annual increase in Chinese students sent to Egypt; and an improvement in the standard of teaching Chinese in the universities.
The media
The media have had an important role to play in introducing the two peoples one to the other. They also have shed light on the political, economic, social and cultural developments in two countries with the purpose of deepening understanding between the Egyptians and the Chinese.
In July 1994, an agreement of cooperation between the televisions of the two countries was signed.
Resident offices representing the Xinhua News Agency, the People's newspaper, China's International Radio, the Chinese Central Television and the China Today magazine have been established. On the Egyptian side, the Middle East News Agency – MENA – has also set up shop in Beijing.
Several media institutions in Egypt have signed protocols of cooperation with China; and vise versa.
