Excavation work carried out by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities over the past couple of years has lead to several exciting discoveries. The revival has truly been an international one and even involves an archeological team from China, who are working in southern city of Luxor, often described as the "world's greatest open-air museum". Yasser Hakim has more.

There are about 250 missions from around the world currently working on excavation sites in Egypt. And China is the latest to enter the field. Mustafa Waziri has been overseeing the Sino Egyptian archaeological cooperation for the last year.

MUSTAFA WAZIRI SECRETARY-GENERAL, SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES "I was very happy that the Chinese cultural attache and the Chinese ambassador, they had a meeting with me and the minister of antiquities about a joint mission between China and Egypt. They said we are planning to have a joint mission in Karnak. In their visit to Karnak they looked at a temple there north of Karnak, we call it the Temple of Montu."

A team of seven Chinese and three Egyptian scientists have been working on the temple of Montu, the eagle headed God of War. Montu temple was built in the 14th century BC. For decades, the site has been abandoned, covered with grass and weed and closed down. The five-year Chinese mission hopes it can restore the temple to its original form and open the site for tourists.

MUSTAFA WAZIRI SECRETARY-GENERAL, SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES "They had a very good plan, first to get rid of the wild grasses. Two to make a sort of documentation of Montu temple. Number three to have a site plan for the entire area. They are coming in a couple of months to continue work there. So far they are doing such great work at Montu temple."

The Egyptian official tells me Cairo would approve any request for other Chinese archaeological missions to work in the country.

YASSER HAKIM CAIRO, EGYPT "Experts say such overseas projects will benefit Chinese scientists at home as they try to unearth ancient monuments from the Chinese civilization as well. Yasser Hakim, CGTN, Cairo."