Several cultural exchange events of the "Charming Beijing" series were held in Cairo, Egypt, from November 1 to 2 (UTC+2). Under the theme "Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations", the program featured an inter-civilizational dialogue between Beijing and Cairo, themed "Harmony of Canals and Convergence of Wonders", and a speech contest themed "Youth in Dialogue on Chinese and Egyptian Civilizations" and centered on Beijing's culture. Other events included screenings of selected documentaries of the "Charming Beijing" series, a cultural gathering, and an exhibition of the vehicles of BAIC Group. Featuring expert discussions, youth perspectives, documentary screenings, cultural experiences, and an industrial showcase, the events presented Beijing's rich historical and cultural heritage alongside its contemporary urban vitality, building a bridge for people-to-people exchanges between Beijing and Cairo — two historic cities.
Ashraf Azazi, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Culture, delivers a speech.
Centered on the two historic cities, the inter-civilizational dialogue consisted of two themed segments, offering a chance to explore the contemporary significance of preserving cultural legacies and promoting exchanges and mutual learning, with a focus on the landmark historical and cultural heritage sites in China and Egypt.
During the session titled "Harmony of Canals and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations: A Dialogue Between Grand Canal in Beijing and Suez Canal", Chinese and Egyptian guests exchanged views on the canals' historical and cultural significance, their roles in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and the ways to preserve cultural heritage and pass it on to future generations, among other topics.
The session titled "Convergence of Wonders and Brilliance of Civilizations: A Dialogue Between Great Wall and Pyramids" brought guests together to discuss the historical and cultural significance of the Great Wall and the Egyptian pyramids, the values they embody, and the exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Egyptian civilizations, among other topics.
Youth exchanges are of great significance in strengthening friendship between China and Egypt and supporting the long-term development of bilateral relations. On November 2, the final and awards ceremony of a speech contest themed "Youth in Dialogue on Chinese and Egyptian Civilizations" were held at the Cairo Opera House.
Focusing on the cultural elements of Beijing, the contest was jointly organized by 23 universities across Egypt offering Chinese-language programs, including Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Suez Canal University and Misr University for Science and Technology, and local Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms. Together, they arranged for registration and preliminary rounds. More than 1,000 Chinese-language learners took part in the rounds. After several qualifying rounds, 12 contestants advanced to the final.
Speaking in Chinese, the contestants shared their insights into and reflections on Beijing's history and culture, the city's development, and the friendly exchanges between China and Egypt. Using the Chinese language as a bridge, the young participants expressed their appreciation of Chinese culture and highlighted young Egyptians' enthusiasm for learning Chinese. Their participation illustrated how people-to-people friendship between the two countries can be passed on to the next generation.
Following the contest, the Cairo Opera House hosted additional events, including screenings of selected documentaries, a cultural gathering, and an exhibition of BAIC Group's vehicles. Through documentaries, photographs and hands-on experiences involving traditional handicrafts, these events introduced Beijing's history, culture, and urban landscape to Egyptian participants and visitors.
