Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi met on Sunday 4/8/2024 with Japanese Ambassador Oka Hiroshi and Kato Ken, Chief Representative of JICA Egypt Office, and the accompanying delegation at the Ministry's new offices in the Administrative Capital. The meeting aimed to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation between Egypt and Japan. It also reviewed the ongoing projects and outlined future plans for cooperation in the fields of tourism and antiquities. Minister Fathi lauded the robust and amicable relations binding Egypt and Japan. He highlighted the successful cooperation across multiple sectors, notably in tourism and antiquities. He also highlighted the significant cooperation between the two countries on the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) project, due to open later this year. The two sides discussed ways to transform GEM into not only the world's largest repository of ancient Egyptian artifacts but also a prominent regional hub for Egyptology research and museum studies. This involve s promoting knowledge exchange with other countries in the region and offering training on restoration and archaeological techniques pioneered by Egyptian professionals. The Japanese archaeological missions have been engaged in excavation projects nationwide for a considerable period, contributing to the preservation and exploration of these important archaeological sites. The meeting also discussed strategies to bolster collaborative efforts to increase incoming tourism from Japan to Egypt's popular tourist spots. The two sides mulled ways to enhance training programmes related to tourism and historical artifacts. Ambassador Oka commended the achievements of this partnership, highlighting the ongoing tourism and archaeological projects. He also expressed strong commitment to nurturing this positive cooperation for mutual benefit. He also praised the advancements and excellence of the services offered by museums and archaeological sites in Egypt. The partnership between Egypt and Japan is marked by coope ration in tourism and archaeology, involving various projects related to antiquities. Several agreements have been inked in the areas of antiquities and museums. An upcoming event in 2025 is the anticipated staging of the temporary antiquities exhibition entitled 'Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs' in Japan. Source: State Information Service Egypt