The Chinese embassy in Egypt Thursday donated more than 150 pieces of books and CDs about China to the Greater Cairo Public Library, which used these books to set up a special Chinese book shelf.

According to the Chinese embassy, these books and CDs could offer information, knowledge and programs in languages of Chinese, Arabic and English. Chinese poems, photo albums, information about China, and traditional Chinese cultures like painting and music were among the categories.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Wu Sike said that the book-giving ceremony was not only one of a series of celebrating activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Egyptian diplomatic ties but also another concrete evidence of friendship and cooperative relations between China and Egypt.

The newly-established Chinese book shelf will give Egyptian readers more information about China and a better opportunity for Egyptians to know China, said Wu.

Mohamed Hamdy, Director of the Greater Cairo Public Library, said for his part that these books and CDs from China exhibited great achievements by a country with a long civilization and that they were best gift to the library.

At a time when people all over the world are interested in learning more about China, these books and CDs are set to help Egyptians readers and scholars to get better understanding of China, said Hamdy, who also hailed the all-round enhancement of Egyptian-Chinese relations which was forged in 1956.

Also attended the ceremony were Egyptian officials including Nabil Abdel-Hamid, Under-secretary of the International Cooperation Ministry, and Nader Hafez, Under-secretary of the Culture Ministry.

According to information released by the Greater Cairo Public Library, the library was set up in 1995 and is the second largest public library in Egypt, only after the Egyptian National Library.

Source: Xinhua