The Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Embassy in Cairo launched on January 12 the 2016 Sino-Egyptian Culture Year which marks the 60th anniversary of joint diplomatic relations.

"The Chinese-Egyptian cultural year is a mean to intensify the already strong cultural ties," The Minister of Culture Helmy al-Namnam told Xinhua.

The announcement came during a press conference at Egypt's National Archive and Documents House in Cairo.

"We will hold cultural events in both countries throughout this year. Our cultural events will tour China, and the Chinese events will be held everywhere is Egypt," the minister said.

Marking 2016 as a cultural year was the fruit of agreement between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi during their meeting in Beijing in December 2014.

"It is also meant to celebrate six decades of the two countries' biletral diplomatic relations," the minister said.

Egypt was the first Arab and African country to recognize the the People's Republic of China.

China and Egypt are among the oldest human civilizations and their relations have deep roots back in history, he added.

The cultural year will boost friendly ties and enhance mutual understanding and future development between the peoples of the two nations, the minister said.

For his part, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy Qi Qianjin said that the Chinese-Egyptian cultural exchange has always been rich and expanding.

"Since the start of the mutual diplomatic relations, China and Egypt have signed tens of cultural agreements that are meant to enable fruitful cultural exchange," he said.

Qi added that Egypt embraced the first cultural Chinese center outside the borders of China, adding that Egypt has been the link between China and the Arabs countries.

More than 100 cultural events will be held throughout the cultural year, with China alone holding more than 60 activities covering music, folkloric dance, cinema, literature, food, seminars and exhibitions.

The Egyptian minister said that artists from China and Egypt will perform in the huge opening ceremony of the cultural year in Luxor later this month.

During his meeting with Sisi in Beijing in December 2014, Xi Jinping decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2016)