How can mutual learning between Egyptian and Chinese civilizations go beyond “understanding each other”? ——Exclusive interview with Hassan Rajab, Egyptian Director of the Confucius Institute at Suez Canal University in Egypt

China News Service, Beijing, September 22. Question: How can mutual learning between Egyptian and Chinese civilizations go beyond “understanding each other”?

——Exclusive interview with Hassan Rajab, Egyptian Director of the Confucius Institute at Suez Canal University in Egypt

China News Service reporter Zhang Huandi

The 2026 Beijing Cultural Forum takes "Cultural Heritage and Mutual Learning among Civilizations" as its annual theme. Hassan Rajab (Chinese name Dahai), the Egyptian director of the Confucius Institute at Suez Canal University in Egypt, was invited to attend the forum. As a sinologist who has been engaged in comparative research on Chinese and Egyptian cultures for a long time, he observed that the exchanges between Egyptian and Chinese civilizations are moving from "understanding each other" to "joint research, joint protection, and joint dissemination." How can mutual learning among civilizations go beyond superficial understanding and move toward deeper common actions? Recently, he accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" and shared his views on topics such as the actual results of mutual learning between China and Egypt's civilizations, the commonality of concepts, youth exchanges and cultural dissemination.

The interview transcript is summarized as follows:

Reporter from China News Service: The 2026 Beijing Cultural Forum takes "Cultural Heritage and Mutual Learning of Civilizations" as its annual theme. In your opinion, in what specific areas has the "mutual learning" between the two ancient civilizations of China and Egypt produced practical results?

Hassan Rajab: In my opinion, the mutual learning between Egyptian and Chinese civilizations has gradually moved from cultural concepts to practical cooperation.

First of all, in terms of archeology and cultural heritage protection, the two sides have carried out joint archaeological, cultural relic research and underwater cultural heritage cooperation. Secondly, in terms of museums and exhibitions, through cultural relic exhibitions and joint research, the public of the two countries have a more intuitive understanding of each other's civilizations. In addition, in terms of Chinese education, youth exchanges and cultural activities, activities such as the Spring Festival, Chinese Culture Day, and Chinese Bridge have also made Chinese culture more and more integrated into the lives of young Egyptians.

It can be said that the exchanges between Egyptian and Chinese civilizations are gradually moving from “understanding each other” to “joint research, joint protection, and joint dissemination.”

Reporter from China News Service: You have compared China's concept of "harmony in diversity" with the ancient Egyptian concept of "Ma'at" and believe that the two are highly consistent. In the context of cultural heritage exchange, what specific directions for cooperation can this conceptual commonality be translated into?

Hassan Rajab: "Harmony without Difference" emphasizes the realization of harmony based on respect for differences, while "Ma'at" emphasizes truth, justice, order and balance. Although the two originated from different civilizations, they both value social harmony and common order.

This commonality can be translated into several specific directions. For example, we will conduct comparative research on Chinese and Egyptian civilizations and conduct joint research on topics such as writing, architecture, agricultural civilization, and urban development; strengthen cooperation in joint exhibitions and digital cultural projects; and organize more youth cultural heritage exchange activities.

The most important thing is for both sides to find common ground and achieve true mutual understanding on the basis of respecting each other's cultural characteristics.

Reporter from China News Service: The Confucius Institute at Suez Canal University has held various cultural activities such as Spring Festival themed activities, Chinese Culture Day, and Chinese Bridge Competition in recent years. In the process of introducing Chinese culture to Egyptian students, which form of effect impressed you most?

Hasan Rajeb: From my experience, participatory and experiential activities have the most obvious effect. For example, calligraphy, paper-cutting, Tai Chi, tea culture, traditional games, etc., students can participate in person instead of just listening to explanations. Such activities are more likely to stimulate their interest in Chinese culture.

I pay particular attention to the form of “Egyptian-Chinese cultural interaction”. For example, let Egyptian students display Egyptian culture and learn Chinese culture at the same time. In this way, communication is no longer one-way communication, but involves both parties participating and expressing, making it easier to form true cultural understanding.

China News Service reporter: You once said that "Youth are the future and hope of Egypt-China friendship." In the field of cultural heritage exchange, has the interest of Egyptian youth in Chinese cultural heritage changed in recent years?

Hasan Rajeb: The changes over the years have been very obvious. In the past, some Egyptian youths’ interest in Chinese culture mainly focused on more intuitive cultural elements such as the Spring Festival, Kung Fu, and pandas.

Now, more and more young people are beginning to pay attention to Chinese history, literature, calligraphy, traditional arts, museums and cultural heritage protection. More importantly, they began to compare the two civilizations of China and Egypt and think about the similarities and differences between the two countries in history, writing, architecture and traditional values.

This shows that young people’s interest is gradually shifting from “understanding Chinese culture” to “understanding Chinese civilization in depth.”

China News Service reporter: Judging from your experience, in order for China-Egypt cultural heritage exchanges to truly reach the daily lives of ordinary Egyptians, what kind of driving force is needed most?

Hasan Rajeb: What is most needed in the next step is to innovate cultural communication methods to make cultural heritage truly accessible to ordinary people.

In addition to museums, universities and academic conferences, short videos, documentaries, digital museums and virtual exhibitions can also be used to make it easier for young people to access Chinese culture. At the same time, school education, community activities and youth exchanges should be strengthened to allow cultural heritage to enter daily life.

Cultural heritage must not only be "seen" but also "understood". Only by moving cultural exchanges from large-scale events to classrooms, communities and the media can cultural exchanges truly penetrate into people's lives.