Egypt has given the green light for a Chinese team to begin excavations in Luxor, a city RICH with ancient monuments. China is planning to assist Egypt with its other archaeological excavations, cultural relics protection, safety monitoring and control in key sites. Here is Adel EL Mahrouky with more.

Dozens of archaeological teams come to Egypt from across the world. But never has China sent an excavation team before. This year however, the Chinese embassy in Cairo approached the Egyptian antiquities ministry, opening the first channel of a joint excavation mission between Egypt and China.

MOHAMED KHALED ISMAIL CHIEF SUPERVISOR, EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF ANTIQUITIES "The Science of Egyptology, began in France after Champollion deciphered the Rosetta stone. Egyptology started to spread in the world but not so much in the Eastern side of the Planet, because of the existence of another great civilization in China. So experts there had their own interests, lately though Egyptology made it there. Antiquities and history universities began to have sections for Egyptology studies, I think that is the main drive of this unique collaboration."

Luxor has the greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities. It's no wonder why the Chinese team chose that ancient city for their excavation. They will be digging right next to the Karnak Temple, the biggest standing temple in Egypt.

MOHAMED KHALED ISMAIL CHIEF SUPERVISOR, EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF ANTIQUITIES "Excavation is a science now, there is clear scientific approach to choose a specific location. A prior study was made about that place. Did any Egyptian dig there before or not. And what is expected? The Chinese scientists believe they can discover additional prayer halls, from the time of the first kings who've built that temple."

Egypt says there is up to an 80% chance that the Chinese mission could discover new rooms in Karnak.

MOHAMED KHALED ISMAIL CHIEF SUPERVISOR, EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF ANTIQUITIES "Antiquities sciences are all focused on knowledge that's the main reason behind that Chinese mission. Our Pharaonic heritage doesn't only belong to Egypt, but to all mankind. It's a civilization that existed thousands of years ago, but is still dazzling the world. It's an honor to everyone to work and have their addition in the science of Egyptology."

The mission is going to be the first step in a plan to establish a Chinese cultural Centre that specializes in antiquities studies. China's team is scheduled to work from September to October. After filing their initial findings reports back home, another excavation mission is expected next year. Adel EL Mahrouky, CGTN, Cairo.