Egyptian artists perform at the lighting ceremony of Saladin Citadel in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 28, 2019. Amid a joyous musical winter night, Cairo's renowned Saladin Citadel on Monday lit up in red to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Amid a joyous musical winter night, Cairo's renowned Saladin Citadel on Monday lit up in red to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.

The celebration, which was attended by Minister of Chinese Embassy in Cairo Liu Yongfeng and Egypt's Minister of Tourism Rania al-Mashat, was co-organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in cooperation with the Egyptian Tourism Ministry and Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.

"In the Chinese culture, the red color symbolizes good fortune, eternity, prosperity, warmth and hope," Liu addressed the event. "I think all these beautiful words are also good to describe our long-term friendship of our two peoples."

She added that the development of China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership will maintain the current great momentum and grow even faster.

For her part, al-Mashat said that it is a tradition for Egyptians to celebrate the Spring Festival with the Chinese people over the past ten years.

"Our two great nations have long-term friendship and relationship that go back for many years," she said. "We both come from very old civilizations that celebrate art, humanity medicine and lots of achievements."

The celebration featured Chinese and Egyptian musical performances that added beauty to the friendly atmosphere.

Norhan Salah, an Egyptian young woman, said that it is her first time to attend the Spring Festival celebrations in Egypt, adding that she came to the event to share the festival's moments with her Chinese friends.

"I love China and love everything about it...I'm an addict of Chinese drama and literature. I love the Chinese culture because it is very close to ours," said Salah who studies Chinese language at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo.

Egyptian-Chinese bilateral ties have been elevated to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership with growing economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries in the light of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.??