Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy is thrilled about the collaboration with China to preserve world heritage. He praised Beijing’s expertise in nominating and registering trans-boundary world heritage sites.
Fathy assured full support to overcome any obstacles in the joint registration process for the Rawda Island Nilometer and the Chinese Baiheliang inscriptions. These historical sites hold significant importance and registering them on the UNESCO World Heritage List will help preserve ancient water data in Egypt and China.
The meeting with the Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Fuling Province, Chongqing Municipality discussed a proposal for joint international nomination file. This collaboration aims to strengthen Egyptian-Chinese bonds and enhance strategic relations, particularly in archaeological work.
Rawda Island Nilometer:
The Rawda Island Nilometer, built in 861 AD, measures flood levels to manage agricultural productivity and set taxation levels. It is one of Egypt’s oldest surviving structures from the Arab conquest period, featuring Qur’anic texts and measuring marks.
Baiheliang Inscriptions, China:
The Baiheliang Inscriptions, dating back to 764 AD, document hydrological records over 1,200 years on the Yangtze River. This natural stone series is one of the world’s oldest hydrological stations and is on the tentative list of World Heritage.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm