The opening ceremony of China Media Group's "Journey Through Civilizations" global exhibition featuring Egypt was held on Thursday at the China Cultural Center in Cairo. 

The event was attended by more than 100 people, including representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and officials from the Egyptian cultural and media sectors.

In the long course of history, Chinese civilization and ancient Egyptian civilization have complemented and illuminated each other, making significant contributions to the progress of human civilization, said CMG President Shen Haixiong as he delivered a video speech.

Shen said that CMG will uphold its mission as a media organization, innovate in the communication of Chinese civilization, enhance cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries, promote dialogue between Chinese and Arab civilizations, and contribute wisdom and strength to fostering mutual understanding and closeness among the people of China and Arab countries, and advance the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

Over 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road resonated with two brilliant civilizations, and spanning millennia. Now the Belt and Road Initiative has once again connected two great nations, said Zhang Tao, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Egypt.

This special exhibition vividly illustrates not only the contemporary significance of dialogue between these two ancient civilizations, but also fully embodies the vision of continuing the traditional friendship between the two countries and deepening cultural exchanges, he added.

Ali Abdelhalim, general director of the Egyptian Museum, said that Egypt and China are both great nations with a rich history, splendid civilizations, and abundant cultural and artistic heritage, contributing significantly to the development of society.

It is hoped that this exhibition will further enhance mutual understanding and awareness between the people of both countries, strengthen the grassroots foundation of friendship between the two nations, and facilitate new progress in practical cooperation across various fields, he said.

Egypt and China, although located on different continents, have been closely connected for a long time through the ancient Silk Road, said Naila Farouk, head of the Egyptian TV.

Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and in recent years, practical cooperation in various fields between the two sides has been growing closer, Farouk said.