The Egyptian Culture Week opened Friday evening with a fabulous performance by the Cairo Symphony Orchestra together with the famous Chinese pianist Kong Xiangdong.

They performed together Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor. The Egyptian Culture Week constitutes an important part of the on-going 7th Shanghai International Arts Festival.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt and so the Egyptian Culture Week was held for celebrations, said Chen Shenglai, president of the Arts Festival Centre.

Chen said that the Egyptian Culture Week will bring a brand-new impression of Egypt to Chinese viewers: a blend of classical, eternal, modern and ancient things. The festival will mainly include photo exhibitions, symphony, ballet and folk dances.

"Join us to unveil the mystery of this ancient nation, get closer to the nation and experience its charm," Chen told Chinese audience at the opening ceremony.

"Apart from Pharaoh and mummy, Egypt is also renowned for its folk culture and modern arts," he said.

"We wish the Arts Festival a great success, just like the brilliant cultural history of Egypt and China," said Dr. Madhour Sabet Ahmed, vice minister of culture of Egypt at the opening ceremony.

During the festival, famous Egyptian Professor Alaa el-din M Shaheen will give a lecture on ancient Egyptian culture to Shanghai citizens, bringing them back to the era of Pharaoh.

The Al-Tannoura Troupe, renowned as Egyptian cultural heritage, will go to Shanghai streets and perform traditional dances full of religious features.

And the Sino-Egyptian Photo Exhibition will show the works that five Shanghai celebrity photographers made during their visit to Egypt.

The Shanghai International Arts Festival began to hold the Culture Week of the guest state since 2002. So far the Australian Culture Week was held in 2002 and the Russian Culture Week and the French Culture in 2004 in Shanghai.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2005)