Chongqing - Joint archaeology and cultural heritage protection are adding a more practical dimension to cultural exchanges between China and Egypt, Egyptian scholar Alaa Hussein Mahmoud Menshawy said at the 2026 Yangtze River Civilization Forum in Chongqing.
Menshawy, a visiting scholar at the National Academy of Chinese Modernization, spoke as China and Egypt mark 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.
The 2026 Yangtze River Civilization Forum opened in Chongqing on September 15 under the permanent theme Crossing Rivers and Seas, Mutual Learning of Civilizations.
This year's agenda focuses on exchanges between the Yangtze civilization and other great river civilizations, as well as issues such as sustainable river basin development.
The 2026 Yangtze Civilization Forum opened in Chongqing on September 15. (Photo: Liu Li)
The forum came less than two weeks after President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Egypt from September 1 to 2, his first visit to the country in 10 years. The visit took place as the two countries marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Menshawy said archaeology and cultural heritage protection are among the areas where exchanges between the two countries are taking more concrete form.
"Chinese President Xi has long emphasized the importance of archaeology and cultural heritage protection. China has also done a lot to protect cultural heritage over the past decade," he said.
"China has also been open to international cooperation, including joint archaeological projects with countries such as Egypt. I think this sends an important message about exchange between ancient civilizations."
Xinhua reported that the first joint Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission was formed in 2018 by the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. In January, the team announced a series of discoveries at the Montu Temple precinct in Luxor, including a previously unknown sacred lake.
Guests visit the ruins of the "sacred lake" at the Montu Temple precinct in the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, Egypt, January 24, 2026. An Egyptian-Chinese archaeological mission announced on Saturday that the team has uncovered an ancient "sacred lake" at the Montu Temple precinct in the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, a city renowned for its rich monuments in southern Egypt. (Xinhua/Xin Mengchen)
Other joint archaeological projects are also underway in Egypt.
The Shanghai Museum said its joint team with Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities had made discoveries at the Sekhmet Temple site in the ancient city of Memphis.
The project marks the first large-scale, systematic excavation of the temple and its surrounding area since 1962.
For Menshawy, today's cooperation also carries a personal connection dating back a decade.
"In 2016, when China and Egypt marked 60 years of diplomatic relations, I took part in welcoming President Xi Jinping at Luxor Temple," he said. "I was also one of the people responsible for the arrangements, and we held a welcome ceremony there."
According to China's Foreign Ministry, President Xi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended a celebration at Luxor Temple on January 21, 2016, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations and the opening of the China-Egypt Cultural Year.
Menshawy said Egyptians have long had warm feelings toward the Chinese people, adding that Xi is "one of the most popular world leaders among Egyptians".
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)
At the forum, Menshawy also placed today's cooperation in the broader context of the Yangtze and Nile civilizations.
Despite their different geography and histories, he said, both rivers profoundly shaped the societies that developed along their banks.
"The Nile River flows from south to north, while the Yangtze River flows from west to east," Menshawy said.
"Despite their geographical and historical differences, both river valleys gave rise to ancient civilizations and helped connect them with surrounding cultures."
Although the Yangtze and the Nile flow through very different natural environments, Menshawy said people living along both rivers found ways to use water, farm, and adapt to their surroundings.
"The methods were different, but in many ways, the thinking behind them was similar," he said.
He used vessels unearthed along both rivers as an example. Some were used to hold water or for farming, but differences in local materials meant they were made and fired differently, he said.
Menshawy said archaeological discoveries have also brought greater attention to the Yangtze's role in the origins and development of Chinese civilization.
A cruise ship is docked along the Yangtze River in Yuzhong District, Chongqing. For centuries, the river has shaped life along its banks and continues to play a role in the city's modern development. (Photo/Zheng Ran)
"For a long time, people mainly linked the origins of Chinese civilization to the Yellow River," he said.
"But as archaeologists uncovered more evidence, people began to pay more attention to the Yangtze. We now understand that the Yangtze also played an important role in the origins and development of Chinese civilization."
For Menshawy, however, looking at ancient civilizations is also about what comes next.
"Valuing civilization, culture and history also reflects our hope for a better future," he said.
"We often talk about the past, but here I also want to talk about the future," Menshawy said. "I believe the Yangtze River will play an even greater role in the continuation and development of Chinese civilization in the years ahead."