Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt and Romania seek to enhance cultural cooperation
Egypt’s Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henno, met with Romania’s Minister of Culture, Mr. András István Demeter, during the opening of the 57th Cairo International Book Fair, where Romania is being honored as this year’s Guest of Honour.
The fair was inaugurated this morning by Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, representing President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
In their meeting, both ministers discussed ways to strengthen cultural cooperation between Egypt and Romania. Among the key topics was the potential signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at deepening bilateral relations in areas including opera, music, theatre, visual arts, and literary translation. The proposed agreement also seeks to facilitate the exchange of expertise and the implementation of joint cultural projects between relevant organizations in both countries.
Dr. Henno noted that the selection of Romania as Guest of Honour provides a valuable opportunity to build on the longstanding relationship between the two nations. He affirmed that this move aligns with Egypt’s broader strategy to expand the international dimension of the Cairo International Book Fair and reinforce its role as a leading global forum for intellectual and creative exchange.
Minister Demeter expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome from the Egyptian side and emphasized the significance of the event. He highlighted Egypt’s role as a key gateway for Romanian culture in the Arab world, while positioning Romania as an important platform to introduce Egyptian culture to European audiences. He underscored the Romanian Ministry of Culture’s commitment to developing a sustainable framework for long-term cultural partnership between both countries.
The meeting concluded with consensus on establishing a joint coordination team to prepare an executive program for cultural and creative cooperation, in preparation for finalizing the necessary procedures to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.