After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi officially inaugurated the colossal museum complex on the Giza Plateau in a ceremony attended by 79 delegations from around the world, including heads of state, members of royal families, and government officials.
In his speech, al-Sisi hailed the opening of the museum as "a living testament to the genius of the Egyptian people."
"The Egyptian people were and still are builders of civilizations, creators of glory, and messengers of peace," he said, describing the opening of the GEM as "writing a new chapter in the history of the present and the future."
Spanning nearly 500,000 square meters, the museum will house an unprecedented collection of over 100,000 artifacts spanning thousands of years of Egyptian history. Its undisputed centerpiece is the complete collection of the boy-king Tutankhamun -- some 5,992 pieces -- including his iconic golden mask and two coffins. This priceless collection will be displayed together for the first time since the discovery of his tomb in 1922.
"The full impressive collection of King Tutankhamen is displayed in one place for the first time, in a 7,500-square-meter hall. All artifacts in the museum are displayed with the latest technology to make it a more impressive experience for visitors. The first King Khufu boat is displayed as a complete boat, and the second King Khufu boat will be assembled by curators in front of the visitors. You won't see this anywhere in the world," said Eissa Zidan, general director of Conservation Projects of the GEM.
The museum occupies a symbolically significant site on the Giza Plateau, where the ancient pyramids are located, offering panoramic views of the pyramids and forging a direct connection between these ancient wonders and the new monumental cultural institution.
The inauguration ceremony, staged in the museum courtyard with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx as a backdrop, featured cultural events and artistic performances celebrating Egypt's rich heritage. Festivities included musical performances, a light show, and a fireworks display.
The GEM is expected to act as a major catalyst for Egypt's vital tourism sector, with officials anticipating a substantial annual influx of visitors that will significantly enhance the country's tourism revenue.
"We're not providing a visit. We're providing an experience and that starts by the Grand stairs we're standing on, which tells a story. We're using a lot of technology, we're providing a lot of recreational areas, including restaurants and shopping areas dedicated only to heritage," said the museum's CEO, Ahmed Ghoneim.
Construction of the museum began in 2005, but the project faced numerous delays over the years due to political instability and funding challenges. Now complete, the facility blends modern architectural design with elements inspired by ancient Egypt, featuring spacious halls and state-of-the-art display technologies.
The museum complex is set to officially open to the public on Nov. 4.
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) debuts near pyramids,with Tutankhamun's complete collection on display in one hall
Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya's consistent provocations on Taiwan-related issues have severely violated the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and China's countermeasures is a just act against the "new militarism" ideology, a scholar on China-Japan relations said in Beijing on Tuesday.
China on Monday announced countermeasures against Keiji Furuya, member of Japan's House of Representatives, for his collusion with Taiwan secessionist forces and other egregious moves, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. The punitive countermeasures against Furuya are a means of deterrence and warning, and China will also take other necessary punitive measures in light of the situation, according to Mao.
Furuya has made a number of sneaky visits to China's Taiwan region, and at a forum there on March 16, he provocatively declared "Japan's determination to protect Taiwan" and even claimed that "changes in Taiwan cannot be allowed to happen."
In an interview with China Central Television on Tuesday, Meng Xiaoxu, a research fellow at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Furuya's moves are a direct challenge to established diplomatic norms.
"The speech he made in Taiwan was actually to defend [Japanese Prime Minister Sanae] Takaichi's erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan. He also mentioned the issue of so-called 'military exchanges' between Japan and Taiwan, which apparently goes against the basic consensus on the one-China principle in China-Japan relations," said Meng.
Furuya has served as the chairman of the Japanese Diet Members' Consultative Council with Taiwan since 2018, an organization known for its strong pro-Taiwan secession leanings.
"This council was actually an organization set up in 1973 by some pro-Taiwan elements in Japan after the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations in 1972. Its main purpose was to maintain contact with Taiwan secessionists through alternative channels. Especially after Keiji Furuya became its chairman, the frequency and scale of the organization's visits to Taiwan have exceeded historical levels," said Meng.
Furuya is widely regarded as one of Sanae Takaichi's core aides. Last October, he was appointed chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Election Strategy Committee, responsible for election strategy affairs. Throughout his political career, Furuya has also repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals.
"Keiji Furuya frequently visits the Yasukuni Shrine, and when he visits the Yasukuni Shrine, he never forgets to mention the Taiwan issue. In fact, he is Takaichi's spokesperson and major promoter on the Taiwan issue. He represents Japan's far-right-wing forces, the idea of 'using Taiwan to contain China' is deeply rooted in his mind. We indeed should take resolute measures to counter it. A major reason for the current downturn in China-Japan relations is Takaichi's erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan, and Japan's current collusion with Taiwan, who not only collude but also make provocations. It is Japan that has deviated from the political foundation of China-Japan relations and continuously provoked China's national interests. The historical revisionism led by the Japanese government is getting rampant throughout the country, leading to the current prevalence of 'new militarism' ideology, which is very dangerous," said Meng.
Chinese scholar justifies countermeasures against Japanese lawmaker
Chinese scholar justifies countermeasures against Japanese lawmaker
