CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A gala concert celebrating the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt was held in Cairo on Wednesday evening, attracting nearly 800 guests from various sectors of both countries.
The concert, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and performed by the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, showcased works by Egyptian, Chinese, and international composers.
Addressing the audience before the performance, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said that dialogue among civilizations reflects the aspirations of the people and the trend of the times.
Looking back on the past 70 years, Liao said the two ancient civilizations have crossed mountains and seas to draw closer to each other, and in recent years have jointly implemented the Global Civilization Initiative, turning China-Egypt friendship into a harmonious melody of a shared future.
In a video message, Egyptian Minister of Culture Gihane Zaki said culture is a bridge connecting peoples, expressing the hope that culture, art, and music would remain "a protective shield for humanity" amid today's "difficult" global circumstances.
Chen Xieyang, music director of the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, told Xinhua that music plays an important role in cultural exchanges. Performing with Egyptian conductor Ahmed El Saedi on the same stage "is a concrete reflection of cultural exchange between China and Egypt," he said.
Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who attended the concert, said Egypt-China relations are rooted in ancient exchanges and that the concert will help deepen mutual understanding between the two civilizations.
