Vice-Premier Liu Yandong addresses a forum of Chinese and Egyptian university chiefs held in Cairo University on Saturday. [Photo by Hou Liqiang/China Daily]

The Chinese government will offer scholarship to at least 1,500 Egyptian students for them to study in China in the next three years, said Vice-Premier Liu Yandong at a forum of Chinese and Egyptian university chiefs in Cairo University on Saturday.

Hailing the forum as a new platform to promote education cooperation between China and Egypt and to enhance friendship of the two countries, she asked for more cooperation between universities of the two sides. "I hope universities of the two countries will further the cooperation in talent cultivation, scientific research and social services and promote exchange between teachers and students, resources sharing and innovation," Liu said.

She asked the universities of the two countries to play bigger roles in promoting China-Egypt relationship as "think tank". Liu also urged the two sides to deepen cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, etc.