To advance international cooperation with leading global universities, an online exchange meeting was held on the evening of January 9th between CDUT and Cairo University. The meeting was attended by Lang Xianguo, director of Department of International Exchanges & Cooperation and Party Secretary of the College of International Education; Li Shan, dean of the College of International Education; Heidi Mohamed Bayoumy, director of Grants and Projects at the International Relations Office at Cairo University; Osama Abd Elhamid Ali Mohamed Abdelnaby, the Client’s Site Director of the Great Wal Driling UAE projects and Hisham AlFakhrany, Manager of Cairo University Hospital.
The meeting
The meeting was chaired by Li Shan. Both Li Shan and Heidi Mohamed Bayoumy provided an introduction to the unique educational features, academic disciplines, international student programs, and global collaboration of CDUT and Cairo University, respectively. Lang Xianguo gave an overview of the CDUT’s Center for Scientific and Technological Archaeology, highlighting its core focus and notable research achievements. The two sides then engaged in detailed discussions regarding potential areas for collaboration, reaching a preliminary agreement on future cooperative efforts.
Li Shan emphasized that as two ancient civilizations, China and Egypt share deep historical ties and a wealth of cultural heritage. Chengdu, as a key birthplace of the ancient Shu civilization, continues to house significant cultural landmarks such as the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, the Jinsha Site Museum, and the Sanxingdui Ruins. CDUT extends a heartfelt invitation to Cairo University’s faculty and students to visit and engage in exchanges, aiming to foster broad and meaningful collaboration in areas including scientific archaeology, a summer camp focused on “Preservation of World Natural and Cultural Heritage,” and archaeological study tours.
Lang Xianguo highlighted that in 2023, CDUT established the Center for Scientific and Technological Archaeology, focusing on “Exerting geological advantages to promote multidisciplinary research on scientific and technological archaeology and cultural relics protection.” The center has made significant strides in areas such as ancient site detection, ancient environmental reconstruction, cultural relic sourcing, and conservation of cultural heritage. Cairo University, with its impressive achievements in archaeology, has expressed a desire to pool resources and complement each other’s strengths to deepen cooperation in scientific archaeology, furthering archaeological exchange programs and enhancing mutual understanding between Chinese and Egyptian civilizations.
Heidi Mohamed Bayoumy expressed her appreciation for the invitation extended by CDUT. She noted that CDUT offers a broad spectrum of disciplines, with a high degree of synergy between the two universities’ fields of expertise, presenting substantial potential for collaboration. Cairo University, with its wealth of practical experience in archaeology, has established the Conservation Center for Archaeological and Historical Buildings and Museum Artifacts, as well as the World Heritage Center. These institutions are dedicated to providing both academic support and practical guidance for the protection and management of global cultural heritage. She expressed hope that the two universities would leverage platforms such as the Chengdu Natural History Museum and the Archaeological Science and Technology Research Center to jointly pursue international archaeological collaboration projects.
The two institutions reached a mutual agreement on collaboration in areas such as hosting summer camps, organizing overseas study programs, conducting joint archaeological projects, and promoting study abroad opportunities at CDUT. This meeting has provided a solid foundation for fostering friendly exchanges between CDUT and Egypt, facilitating enhanced international cooperation in the field of scientific archaeology.
Founded in 1908 and located in Cairo, Egypt’s capital, Cairo University is the country’s premier public comprehensive university and a founding member of the League of Tropical Universities. In the 2025 US News & World Report College Rankings, it is placed 271st, while it ranks 350th in the QS World University Rankings 2025. The university’s archaeology program is ranked within the 101-150 range globally.
