A press conference for the 2016 Sino-Egyptian Culture Year was held at the National Archives of Egypt in Cairo, Egypt on Jan 15, 2016. [Photo/eg.china-embassy.org]

A press conference for the 2016 Sino-Egyptian Culture Year was held at the National Archives of Egypt in Cairo, Egypt on Jan 15. The Ministry of Culture of Egypt and the Chinese embassy in Egypt jointly held the conference with the support of the China Cultural Center in Egypt.

Qi Qianjin, counselor of the Chinese embassy, Helmy Namnam, minister of the Ministry of Culture of Eygpt and representatives from other Egyptian government departments attended.

The logo and arrangements for the culture year were revealed at the conference. China will stage 40 cultural activities in Egypt in 2016, among which are exhibitions on film and TV, books, cultural industry, modern arts and communication among cultural institutions between the two countries.

The logo features the pyramids surrounded by three colors, red, yellow and blue, which seem to look like the Temple of Heaven in China.

Qi noted that the culture year will boost the friendship between China and Egypt, two countries with roots in ancient civilizations that have long and glorious cultures.

Namnam noted that Egypt was the first Arabic and African country to establish official diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The friendship between the countries has been enhanced in pursuing common interests and objectives over the past 60 years. Egypt will work with China to hold activities, including music and dance performances, exhibitions of relics and a tourism fair, to promote exchanges between the countries.