President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Mrs. Intissar El-Sisi, the President's wife, this evening attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum, with the participation of 79 delegations representing various countries of the world, in addition to a large presence of representatives of a number of regional and international organizations and major global companies.
Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, the Official Spokesman for the Presidency, stated that the President received the heads of delegations, Their Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses and dignitaries taking part in the ceremony, which began with an artistic performance titled "The World Plays One Melody", followed by a "laser and drones" show explaining the "Orion's Belt" theory and the relationship between the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the pyramids. This was followed by an artistic performance titled "A Journey of Peace in the Land of Peace", which included an artistic scene on the Egyptians' creativity in construction, from the building of the Pyramid of Djoser to construction in the modern era. The audience then listened to a Coptic song and Sufi chanting, followed by another drone show displaying the phrase "Civilizations flourish in times of peace".
The Official Spokesman for the Presidency added that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi delivered a speech on the occasion of the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the text of which is as follows:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds
Ladies and gentlemen,
Your Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses and Honorable guests..
Distinguished guests of Egypt..
Great people of Egypt..
"Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you"
I begin my speech by welcoming you to the land of Egypt, the oldest state known to history, here where civilization wrote its first letters and the world witnessed the birth of art, thought, writing and faith.
Ancient Egypt inspired all the peoples of the earth, and from the banks of the Nile the lights of wisdom shone forth to illuminate the path of civilization and human progress, proclaiming that the edifices of civilization are built in times of peace and spread through the spirit of cooperation among peoples.
Today, as we celebrate together the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, we write a new chapter of the history of the present and the future in the story of this ancient nation. This is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization, the civilization of Egypt, whose splendor never fades.
This great edifice is not merely a place to preserve precious antiquities; it is a living testament to the genius of the Egyptian people who built the pyramids and inscribed the story of eternity on the walls, a testament that tells generations the story of a nation whose roots run deep in human history, whose branches still shade its present, so that its giving continues in the service of humanity.
Distinguished audience..
This achievement, which we are all honored to open today, is the result of broad international cooperation with a number of global companies and institutions, and we do not forget the great support provided by our friend Japan for this giant cultural project.
I also express my appreciation for the sincere effort made by our sons and daughters over the past years, officials, engineers, researchers, archaeologists, technicians and workers, to accomplish this great historic mission.
Ladies and gentlemen..
The Grand Egyptian Museum is a tangible image of the journey of a people who have inhabited the land of the Nile since the dawn of history. The Egyptian was, and still is, diligent, patient, generous, a builder of civilizations, a maker of glory, proud of his homeland, a bearer of the banner of knowledge and an eternal messenger of peace.. And throughout the ages, Egypt has remained an oasis of stability, a melting pot of diverse cultures and a guardian of human heritage.
In conclusion..
I renew my welcome to you in your second country, Egypt, the land of civilization and history, the land of peace and love, and I invite you to enjoy this celebration and to make this museum a platform for dialogue, a destination for knowledge, a meeting place for humanity and a beacon for all who love life and believe in the value of the human being.
Long live Egypt.. Long live humanity
Thank you.. And peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you
The Official Spokesman explained that after concluding his speech, President El-Sisi went to the location of the Grand Egyptian Museum model, where he placed the final piece in the name of Egypt to complete the model, signaling the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, coinciding with the announcement that all the kings, presidents and princes of brotherly and friendly countries had received a miniature model of the museum and a piece bearing the name of each country. This was followed by a narration of the story of the Grand Egyptian Museum, then a musical show segment titled "King Ramesses II", a musical performance about the sunken antiquities of Alexandria, then the Grand Staircase show, a showcase of the Grand Egyptian Museum's collections, and the Nile show, which demonstrated the depth of the bond between the Nile and the people.
The ceremony concluded with performances of Khufu's boat, the "Solar Boats", and King "Tutankhamun", which highlighted the role of the young boy Hussein Abdel Rassoul in the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, followed by a closing show using lighting, fireworks and laser displays.
President El-Sisi then accompanied the delegations taking part in the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum on an inspection tour of the Grand Staircase and the Tutankhamun Hall.
According to the official page of the Official Spokesman for the Presidency on "Facebook".
