The bilateral ties between Egypt and China have further materialised amid rising economic cooperation between the countries. Over the past few weeks, the most populous Arab country has seen the vibrant presence of Chinese companies cooperating with the Egyptian government in various infrastructure projects.
Egypt is aspiring for economic growth after four years of political turmoil that witnessed the ouster of ex-President Hosni Mubarak and former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
“China is ready to support Egypt’s efforts to maintain stability and growth as the nation strives to find a development path that fits its own conditions,” Yang Jiechi, China’s state councillor, said on Monday during a two-day official visit to Cairo, where he met Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
President Sisi signed a joint agreement with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to elevate Egypt-China bilateral ties to the level of “comprehensive strategic partnership” during his official visit to Beijing in late December.
Noted by Xi as “an important milestone”, Sisi’s visit to Beijing six months after taking office also marked the two presidents’ commitment to boost economic, political and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Sisi hailed Xi’s initiative on building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, known as the “Belt and Road” initiative, pledging that Egypt would be an active part of the proposal. Yang said that China was keen to join Egypt in boosting pragmatic cooperation by centring around the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative with a focus on infrastructure and industrial capacity.
President Sisi said during talks with Yang that China played an important role in infrastructure, energy and housing projects in Egypt, commending the current level of economic and political cooperation between Cairo and Beijing.
In line with the development plans of Egypt after four years of chaos, China’s Belt and Road initiative has opened a new chapter for bilateral relations between the two powers.
Egypt has almost completed the huge national project of the Suez Canal waterway expansion and is now preparing for its inauguration and opening for ship navigation in August, as per Sisi’s instructions.
“Egypt will benefit from the Silk Road revival project, especially since the expansion of the Suez Canal will shorten the time of ship and trade traffic in the canal,” said Gamal Bayoumi, head of the Arab Investors Union and an official at the Egypt’s International Cooperation Ministry.
