After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage.
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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy Sun Yeli attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday at the invitation of the Egyptian government.
Staged in the museum courtyard with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx as a backdrop, the inauguration ceremony featured cultural events and artistic performances celebrating Egypt's rich heritage. Festivities included musical performances, a light show, and a fireworks display.
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 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 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.
According to official data, around five to seven million tourists are expected to visit the museum per year to enjoy the splendor and grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The museum complex is set to officially open to the public on Nov. 4.
Egypt unveils world's largest museum dedicated to single civilization at grand ceremony
Egypt unveils world's largest museum dedicated to single civilization at grand ceremony
The Japanese society should do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression and adhere to the pacifist constitution, said Shiradori Hiroshi, a professor of the Hosei University, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Tokyo on April 30.
He said the government's recent move to discuss revising the three security documents deserve particular attention as the country's foreign and security policies have already witnessed major changes.
"People outside of the country hold that Japan's post-war image as a 'peace state' is now facing a major shift. Against the backdrop of tremendous changes in its foreign and security policies, the revision of the three security documents deserves particular attention. There lacks public debate in terms of the procedure, with policy changes decided unilaterally at Cabinet meetings. It is necessary to fully explain to the public as to whether such a practice is proper," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government held its first expert panel meeting to discuss revisions to the three security documents at the Prime Minister's Office on April 27, local media reported.
Japan's current National Security Strategy and two related documents, formulated in 2022, were designed to cover the next 10 years, but the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to move up the timetable to accelerate the revision process.
Increasing defense spending is one of the key topics of the meeting, according to Kyodo News.
Hiroshi said this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, or Tokyo Trials, and the Japanese society must do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression in WWII, when it brought enormous catastrophes on Asian countries.
"Eighty years have passed since the opening of the Tokyo Trials. Japan inflicted enormous suffering on Asian countries during WWII, which should serve as an opportunity for the soul-searching. It is exact on the basis of countless sacrifices that Japan's post-war pacifism and its identity as a 'peace state' took shape. On this 80th anniversary, it is necessary for Japan to re-examine and do soul-searching regarding its history," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government's effort to revise the pacifist constitution is widely opposed by the public.
On Sunday, around 50,000 people gathered at Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, chanting slogans and holding banners against the government's push for constitutional revision and military expansion, the largest turnout of its kind in recent years.
Japan should adhere to pacifist constitution: scholar
