Off the wire
• China to improve food, drug safety by 2020  • Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Feb. 21  • Lao people warned against H5N1 bird flu risk  • China, India pledge stronger ties  • 1st LD: CPC meeting discusses draft government work report  • Singapore, Britain renew Economic and Business Partnership  • Norway seeks role in internal market arrangements between EU, Britain  • Roundup: Italian taxi drivers continue protests against Uber-related draft  • Laos to hold petanque tournaments to select potential players  • 7 injured as high-speed ferry collides with marine animal in Japan  
You are here: 　 Home

Messi arrives in Egypt for anti-Hepatitis campaign

Xinhua, February 21, 2017 Adjust font size:

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to promote a new treatment for Hepatitis C virus, a source at Cairo International Airport told Xinhua.

The visit was deemed as part of "Tour n' Cure" international tourism initiative launched under the slogan of "For a World Free of Virus C," it said.

The source also noted that Messi arrived at Cairo West International Airport, making him to stay near the Pyramids of Giza and close to the nearby Mena House Hotel where he will show up for a ceremony.

The soccer superstar, who plays for Spanish club FC Barcelona, or "Barca," was scheduled to arrive in Egypt last week but the trip was delayed after his team suffered an overnight massive 0-4 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism pins hope on Messi's "historic visit" to be one of the steps towards enhancing the tourism sector in Egypt that has been suffering recession over the past few years due to political turmoil and relevant security issues.

"Such visits by international public figures, undoubtedly, pour in favor of Egypt and serve its tourism sector significantly," said the Egyptian ministry in a previous statement. Endit