CAIRO, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The growing partnership between Egypt and China is boosting cultural and people-to-people exchanges in such fields as tourism, archaeology, museums and heritage cooperation, the head of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has said.
"China is becoming a very close partner to Egypt in many respects," GEM CEO Ahmed Ghoneim told Xinhua in a recent interview, citing increasing flights, as well as more exchanges of ideas, culture and traditions between the two countries.
Chinese tourists have become an important part of the GEM's international visitors since it opened in early November 2025, Ghoneim said.
The museum received more than 3 million visitors from its opening through the end of July, with foreign visitors accounting for more than 60 percent, according to the GEM chief.
He described the museum as "Egypt's gift to the world" and the country's "fourth pyramid," saying it is the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization.
Among the museum's major attractions is the collection of ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun, with more than 5,000 pieces displayed in a gallery covering about 7,500 square meters.
He said Tutankhamun's appeal lies in the largely intact collection discovered in his tomb, the mystery surrounding his life, and the exceptional quality of the artifacts.
The GEM also uses technology to complement the display of antiquities and enhance the visitor experience. "It brings the past, the history, with the present and the future in a nice context," Ghoneim noted.
The museum's conservation facilities are a case in point, Ghoneim said, noting that the conservation center has the largest and most up-to-date labs in the Middle East and Africa.
The CEO highlighted expanding archaeological cooperation between Egypt and China, citing joint excavations in Luxor and Saqqara, which have expanded rapidly over the past years.
Ghoneim said the GEM has established ties with a number of renowned Chinese universities, research centers and museums to explore cooperation in training, joint workshops and capacity building.
"There are different areas of cooperation that we are exploring with our Chinese partners, and I believe this is going to materialize very soon in projects that are very meaningful to both countries," Ghoneim added.
He described culture and civilization as important sources of "soft power" for Egypt and China, two of the world's oldest civilizations, and as among the best ways to foster deeper people-to-people exchanges.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Egypt-China diplomatic ties, Ghoneim invited more Chinese people to visit Egypt and the GEM, saying the museum offers a unique window into both the differences and the similarities between the two civilizations.
