On 5th of April 2023, Dr. Ashraf El-Ghandour, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research Affairs at Alexandria University, received Mr. Hu Muqing, Director of the Shanghai Art Collection Museum in China, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss strengthening academic and cultural cooperation between Alexandria and Shanghai.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Dr. Hani Khamis, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Dina Mandour, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dr. Sameh Shehata, Supervisor of the International Relations Office at Alexandria University, and Dr. Nashwa Fouad, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels for Graduate Studies and Research.

During the meeting, Dr. Ashraf El-Ghandour stressed the keenness of Alexandria University on joint cooperation, especially in the presence of a twinning agreement between the cities of Alexandria and Shanghai. He pointed out that the cooperation will be in the fields of antiquities and arts, strengthening relations between the cities of Alexandria and Shanghai, which have a long history and civilization, as well as consolidating cooperation between Alexandria University and Chinese universities, activating the exchange of students, professors, and study programs in academic and research fields of common interest. El-Ghandour welcomed cooperation in the fields of antiquities and museums, especially since Alexandria University has 14 museums that contain several documents, collections, paintings, archaeological maps, and rare artifacts.

For his part, the director of the Shanghai Art Collection Museum confirmed that there are close relations between the Museum and Alexandria University, pointing to the participation of Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, in the activities of the Photography Forum in China. He also pointed out the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the twinning agreement between Shanghai and Alexandria last year, and the holding of a photography exhibition on the side-lines of that agreement entitled “A Tale of Two Cities from Shanghai to Alexandria.” He also referred to the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, in order to facilitate cooperation with the museums of the city of Alexandria affiliated to the Ministry of Antiquities, libraries, universities and other Egyptian cultural institutions, stressing his pleasure to enhance mutual cooperation, to implement the twinning agreement between Shanghai and Alexandria and exchange relations through art and mutual culture between the two cities. Hu Muqing also called on Alexandria University to participate in the establishment of a photography forum in China, scheduled to be held next June 2023, especially since Alexandria University is one of the universities that overlook the Mediterranean.