On the evening of June 17, 2006, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council and his Egyptian counterpart Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif attended the gala performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Egypt diplomatic ties in front of the Giza pyramids and Sphinx Square, southwest of Egyptian capital Cairo.

The performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Egypt was called "Hand in Hand" and jointly sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, the China Central Television Station (CCTV) and Egyptian state TV Channel One. Prior to the gala performance, Wen and Nazif made important speeches.

Wen said that China-Egypt friendship opened a new chapter 50 years ago when the two countries came together in the historical trend of national liberation and development. Egypt was the first African and Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. China-Egypt strategic cooperation has achieved plentiful fruits as political relations between the two countries get increasingly close, bilateral economic cooperation keeps advancing and cultural and educational exchanges become part of the daily life of the two peoples.

Nazif said that the Egyptian and Chinese governments attach great importance to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The anniversary does not only means holding some celebrations, but more importantly it will push forward bilateral cooperation in various areas including politics, economy, trade, technology and culture.

Later performers from the two countries entertained the audience, fully displaying the modern Chinese culture and art and the essence of Egyptian traditional art. The audience was inebriated by the performance of well-known Chinese artists and singers such as Peng Liyuan, Zhu Mingying and A Bao and Egyptian popular star Mohamed Mounir. The tune "Jasmine beside the Nile" played by a Chinese women band of folk music is specially composed for the occasion and combines the Chinese song "Jasmine" with Egyptian music, expressing the wish that China-Egypt friendship will pass from generation to generation.

The "Hand in Hand" show is a major brand activity created by CCTV in order to enhance communications between China and the rest of the world as well as between Chinese at home and overseas Chinese. Launched in 1997, the show has been held in Canada, Australia, Spain, France, India and Argentina.

The latest "Hand in Hand" show of CCTV held in front of the Great Pyramids is of special historical significance of celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic ties, enhancing the traditional friendship of the two peoples, reinforcing the cultural exchanges between the two countries and promoting the cooperation of TV staffs of the two nations.