Authorities from China and Egypt vowed to further enhance media cooperation between the two countries to boost culture and people-to-people exchanges. The enhancement is largely due to the growing popularity of Chinese TV dramas in Egypt.
With a series of agreements signed by TV companies based in China and Egypt, more Chinese television dramas will have Arabic translations and will be broadcasted by Egyptian TV stations.
Egypt's State Television and Radio Union president Essam Amir said that translated versions of Chinese dramas have long been proven popular in his country. The TV shows have even helped the people of Egypt acquire a new recognition and appreciation of China.
Amir mentioned that the two Chinese dramas that were broadcasted in Arabic on national television in Egypt have been warmly welcomed among the Egyptian people. "Both China and Egypt possess profound and rich culture in the ancient world," CRI English quoted Amir as saying. He also added that the warm reception meant the two countries share great similarities and face the same social problems in the modern world.
The two Chinese dramas that were shown on Egyptian national TV were "The Happy Life of Mr. King" and "Beautiful Daughter-in-Law," which received high audience ratings of 2.8 and 3.2, respectively.
With an agreement signed by Egypt's State Television and Radio Union and China Radio International, a program called "Chinese Theater" is set to be aired on Egyptian State television this year. Both organizations have agreed that cultural and media exchanges remain an important part of the deepening relationship between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Chinese-Arab Media Dialogue Conference was held in Cairo, Egypt on Jan. 18, Monday, which called for the enhancement of mutual media cooperation. The conference came just a day before Chinese president Xi Jinping's five-day tour to the region.
The conference was joined by reps from 12 Chinese newspapers, news agencies and radios and more than 30 representatives of Arab media institutions.
According to Ahram newspaper chief-in-editor Ahmad Al-Nagar, Ahram has already signed numerous arrangements with Chinese media institutions in Egypt as they remain keen on exchanging visits and visions with them. "We are in dire need for intensifying our efforts in combating terrorism," Xinhua quoted Al-Nagar as saying.
Here's a trailer of a Chinese drama with Arabic subtitles: