By Mohamed Mousa and Ayman Roshdi
Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber received on Tuesday Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and her delegation during their visit to Egypt to attend the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
The visit also marked the 35th anniversary of the twinning agreement between Cairo and Tokyo.
Governor Saber voiced his appreciation for the visit, noting that it coincides with a major global cultural event and the anniversary of a partnership that has linked the two capitals since 1990.
He said Tokyo’s Governor has worked since 2016 to strengthen ties with Cairo, leading to major progress in cooperation across urban development, culture, education, and sports.
Saber added that Cairo and Tokyo represent a successful model of cooperation between major world capitals, built on mutual respect and a shared vision for sustainable urban development.
He praised Japan’s continued support for Egypt through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one of the main contributors to the construction of the GEM.
Governor Saber highlighted several landmark projects supported by Japan, including the Cairo Opera House, Cairo University Children’s Hospital, Cairo Metro Line 4, and the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology.
For her part, Governor Koike expressed her happiness in celebrating both the GEM’s opening and the 35th anniversary of the friendship between the two cities.
She said the Grand Egyptian Museum is a historic achievement for all humanity and will attract more visitors to Egypt to explore its rich heritage.
Saber presented Koike with a commemorative statue of King Tutankhamun, symbolising Egypt’s ancient civilization and friendship with Japan.
