Vice-Premier Liu Yandong on March 26 asked for further cultural cooperation between her country and Egypt.

Vice-Premier Liu attended a forum of Chinese and Egyptian university chiefs in Cairo and hailed the event as a chance for further bilateral cultural cooperation.

“This conference is considered as a new platform to boost cooperation between the two countries in the field of education and to enhance the Chinese-Egyptian friendship,” she told the forum.

She noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt.

“China and Egypt should make full use of the unique cultural interaction between the two states and strengthen the friendship of their two peoples,” she said, urging both sides to take further steps to push forward the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong addresses the closing ceremony of a forum of Chinese and Egyptian university chiefs, in Cairo, Egypt, March 26, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

Proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, the main idea of the initiative is to revive ancient trade routes to link China with over 60 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe through the Belt and Road Initiative.

She urged the two sides to deepen practical cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, health and tourism.

The vice-premier expressed the hope that the China-Egypt cultural interaction can be the “locomotive” for further Chinese-Arab and Chinese-African cultural exchanges.

She also called for Chinese and Egyptian universities to deepen cooperation.

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong addresses the foundation stone laying ceremony of the model Confucius Institute building at Cairo University in Cairo, capital of Egypt, March 26, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (2nd L) attends the foundation stone laying ceremony of the model Confucius Institute building at Cairo University in Cairo, capital of Egypt, March 26, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (2nd L) and Egyptian Higher Education Minister Ashraf al-Shehi (2nd R) cut the ribbon for the Chinese higher education exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, March 26, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]