I have a friend, a teaching assistant in faculty of fine arts. Her master's degree is on Chinese bird and flowers paintings. She is the first in Egypt to research this topic. As she prepared for her master's degree she faced some difficulties in finding materials related to that topic, but despite this, her interest in what she is doing and in Chinese art and culture helped her overcome all problems she faced.

Chinese culture and its unique and diverse traditional arts are of keen interest to people who want to discover China. I can see this every time through different cultural events, no matter if the events are Chinese exhibition, folk arts or symposiums about Chinese history and literature.

Two years ago three Egyptians and I had participated in a Chinea Culture Center award tour group in Beijing. At that time we stayed in Beijing for two weeks, and in the third week we visited Shandong province. When we got back, the Chinese culture center asked us to give a lecture with Power Point to show the audience pictures from our visit and to tell them about our different impressions. I gave a lecture about the historical places and sights I’ve seen in China. That was not my first time to visit China, but every time I go there I discover new things. At that time one of my friends attended the lecture. She said that it was really impressive to know different and new things about China - not only that developed and industrialized country, but also the country with a great civilization, ancient history and unique culture.

Three years ago I read poetry written by the great Chinese writer and philosopher Zhou Guoping. I was fascinated with his deep and philosophical way of writing. At that time I had an opportunity to visit China and I decided to meet Mr. Zhou. I contacted him and he gave me his wife’s number and asked me to contact her as soon as I arrived to China, to arrange a meeting with them. I did and they invited me to dinner at their home, Mrs. Guo Hong, Mr. Zhou’s wife, made special food for me. I truly felt as welcome as I was at home. At that time I strongly recognized the similarities between Chinese and Egyptian culture. Egyptians and Chinese both are friendly people, warmhearted and warmly welcome their guests.