Egypt, China Deepen Cooperation in Heritage Preservation

Chongqing - On the evening of October 11, the 2024 Baiheliang Tourism and Culture Festival opened in Fuling District, Southwest China's Chongqing, highlighting international cooperation in cultural heritage preservation. The festival features a variety of events, including academic forums, sports competitions, and cultural and tourism promotions

On the evening of October 11, the 2024 Baiheliang Tourism and Culture Festival opened in Fuling District, Southwest China's Chongqing. (Photo/The event organizer)

At the opening ceremony, Li Yong, Secretary of CPC Chongqing Fuling District Committee, highlighted the festival's goal of advancing global civilization initiatives and promoting international exchanges and cooperation in cultural heritage preservation. 

He emphasized Fuling's commitment to further using the festival as a platform to strengthen cultural heritage protection, transmission, and utilization. Efforts are underway to build the China Hydrology Museum and advance the joint nomination of China's Baiheliang and Egypt's Nilometer as UNESCO World Heritage sites, driving cultural prosperity, heritage preservation, and international cultural exchanges.

Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, delivered the following via video: "Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2008, Baiheliang is the world's first underwater museum accessible without diving. Its continuous hydrological observations spanning over 1,200 years are not only a testament to China's hydrological wisdom but also a shared heritage of mankind. We are pleased to see the collaborative efforts between China's Baiheliang and Egypt's Nilometer advancing their serial nomination for World Cultural Heritage."

Assem Mohammed Hanafi, Ambassador of Egypt to China, remarked on the longstanding relationship between Egypt and China, "Egypt and China, both ancient civilizations, boast long and splendid histories. The ancient Silk Road has long connected us closely. Today, under the new era of the Belt and Road Initiative, Egypt and China have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields such as trade, culture, education, science, and technology, bringing immense benefits to the people of both nations and contributing positively to international and regional peace, stability, and prosperity."

Assem Mohammed Hanafi, Ambassador of Egypt to China, gave a speech during the opening ceremony. (Photo/The event organizer)

He said, "The successful hosting of the 2023 Baiheliang Tourism and Culture Festival not only showcased the unique charm of the Baiheliang inscriptions, a world hydrological heritage site, but also deepened the cooperation between Egypt and China in the fields of cultural heritage protection and cultural exchange. Over the past year, I have been pleased to see the project of serial nomination for World Cultural Heritage between China's Baiheliang and Egypt's Raoudha Nilometer in Cairo progressing steadily. We look forward to deepening the understanding and friendship between the Egyptian and Chinese people through the in-depth cooperation between Baiheliang and the Nilometer in the field of World Cultural Heritage and elevating the mutual exchange of civilizations between our two nations to new heights."

At the opening ceremony, water from the Yangtze River and the Nile was symbolically mixed, highlighting the rich cultural histories of both rivers and symbolizing a shared hope for harmony and cultural exchange.

At the opening ceremony, water from the Yangtze River and the Nile was symbolically mixed. (Photo/The event organizer)

The evening ended with a cultural performance, during which Chinese and Egyptian artists came together to deliver a stunning display of music and visuals, celebrating the joint effort to preserve the two countries' heritage.

On October 12, renowned scholars from Egypt, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Brazil, and leading Chinese experts held a symposium on "The Heritage Value, Conservation and Inheritance of Baiheliang-Nilometer." The discussions focused on five key topics: the value and characteristics of Baiheliang and the Nilometer, their similarities and differences, historical and cultural significance, engineering techniques, and strategies for protection and preservation.