Egypt filed an official complaint against China after a replica of the Great Sphinx of Giza appeared in Hebei province.

Egypt issued a complaint to UNESCO for the full-size replica of the Sphinx, a half man half lion carved on a rock, which is a famous attraction in Giza. This was according to a report from Daqing Daily.

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The full-size Sphinx replica found in Hebei measured 20 meters in height and 60 meters in length. It was located at the foot of the Taihang Mountains found in the village of Donggou in Shijiazhuang, Hebei's capital.

The head of the Ministry of Egyptian Antiquities, Mohamed Ibrahim, said that he has already asked the country's United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization delegate Mohamed Sameh Amr to issue a complaint against the Sphinx replica.

The Egyptian minister said that the country would demand the United Nations to implement the 1972 UNESCO Convention agreement wherein a mandate states protection of world cultural and natural heritage.

Ibrahim said that Egypt would address UNESCO's director general Irina Bokova regarding the matter.

He also added that they would supply information regarding the Sphinx replica in Hebei citing harms over the Egyptian cultural heritage. The Great Sphinx of Giza has been registered in the World Heritage List, he added.

The minister also added that the foreign ministry would communicate with the Chinese embassy in Cairo to resolve the issue. He said that Egypt would also discuss regarding compensation or removal of the Sphinx replica built in the Chinese province.

Meanwhile, earlier reports said that the replica of the Great Sphinx was just a part of a new movie based theme park. A representative from the site's developer said that the replica was a part of a film set and would be removed after shooting scenes from the movie has been done.

The spokesperson said that the replica has no other purpose and does not charge fees for visitors after it became a hot tourist spot. He also added that they respect global historical and cultural heritage and that they apologize for any misinterpretation.

TagsEgypt, UNESCO, The Great Sphinx of Giza