The first Chinese archaeological mission in Egypt will start its excavation works on Sunday in Montu Temple in the southern province of Luxor, an Egyptian official said in a statement on Friday.
"This is the first Chinese archaeological team to work in Egypt," said Mostafa al-Saghir, director-general of Karnak temples in Luxor, noting that the Chinese experts have vast expertise in the field of excavation.
Man sits in front of the Ramesseum, Luxor, Egypt. /VCG Photo
He added that the authorization of the Chinese team comes under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in October.
The Egyptian official expected the mission to be a beginning for more Chinese mission to work in different archaeological sites in Egypt.
The Chinese mission will conduct excavation, renovation and documenting works at the site, Saghir noted in a statement.
Monuments displayed during a new discovery made by an Egyptian archaeological mission through excavation work at the area located on the stony edge of King Userkaf pyramid complex in Saqqara Necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, November 10, 2018. /VCG Photo
The MoU between Cairo and CASS aims at boosting cultural and educational joint activities and raise awareness of both Egyptian and Chinese cultural heritages.
Egypt, one of the world's oldest civilizations, has been working hard to preserve its archaeological heritage and discover the secrets of its ancient artefacts.
Over the past few years, the country has witnessed several big archaeological discoveries including pharaonic tombs, statues, coffins, mummies, burial sites and funerary gardens.