Head of tourism relations at the tourist authority Mohamed Abdel Gabbar underlined close ties binding Egypt and China in the various political, economic and cultural spheres.

China contributed to the establishment of the International Convention Center in Nasr City, which is considered one of the best centers in the Middle East, he added during a press conference held on Monday.

The Chinese market is considered an important tourism market for Egypt, he said, adding that the number of Chinese tourists who visited Egypt from January to April 2015 reached about 48,000 tourists, with an increase of about 160%, compared with the same period in 2014.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Egypt is expected to hit about 200,000 by the end of this year, he noted.