CAIRO, April 24 (MENA) - Board Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Middle East News Agency (MENA) Ahmed Kamal affirmed that Egyptian-Chinese relations have entered a new era following the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2014, noting that relations have since witnessed significant progress and have become a model for cooperation between China and both the Arab and African countries.

This partnership is grounded in principles of solidarity, coordination, mutual benefit and shared prosperity, he added in an address he gave Thursday at the “Cairo Dialogue Forum: Chinese-Style Modernization and the World,” in a session titled “Dialogue between Media and Think Tanks on Chinese-Style Modernization and the World.”

Kamal noted that the new era of Egyptian-Chinese relations is characterized by several key pillars, most notably the continuous communication between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting Xi’s historic state visit to Egypt in 2016 and President Sisi’s visits to China on eight different occasions since 2014. The two leaders have held a total of 13 meetings in recent years, underscoring the strength of bilateral ties, he pointed out.

He emphasized that Egypt was among the first nations to support the Belt and Road Initiative and continues to be a fundamental partner in its implementation. China, in turn, is keen to align this initiative with Egypt's Vision 2030, seeking to explore untapped potentials, broaden areas of cooperation, and open new horizons for joint development efforts, according to him.

MENA chief highlighted that cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative has produced tangible outcomes that serve the interests of both countries. “Joint projects have contributed significantly to Egypt’s economic and social development, notable among these is the Egypt-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in the Suez Canal area (TEDA), which has successfully attracted 185 companies, with total investments exceeding $3 billion. The zone has generated over $5.3 billion in sales, paid approximately $300 million in taxes, and created nearly 10,000 direct employment opportunities,” he said. It now stands as a leading example of successful industrial cooperation between Egypt and China, he added.

He also referenced other major infrastructure projects executed by Chinese companies, including the light rail project in 10th of Ramadan City, which benefits more than five million commuters, as well as the Central Business District and the Iconic Tower in the New Administrative Capital.

Kamal remarked that Egypt’s accession to the BRICS group on January 1, 2024, has provided renewed momentum and a stronger platform for cooperation between Egypt, China, and other BRICS member states. This influential bloc represents half of the world’s population and accounts for half of global GDP, he noted, underlining that BRICS embodies the aspirations of developing nations and the Global South in achieving sustainable development. He stressed that the Egyptian people hold China in high regard, viewing it as a distinguished model of a developing country that, despite its remarkable achievements, continues to identify itself as such.

He expressed hope that Egyptian-Chinese cooperation will continue to yield further achievements and developmental projects that support Egypt's economic growth in the coming period.

In conclusion, Kamal underscored the historical role of the Middle East News Agency (MENA) as Egypt’s official national news agency, established in 1954 as the first of its kind in the Middle East. He recalled that MENA signed the first-ever news exchange agreement with China’s Xinhua News Agency in 1958—an agreement that remains in effect to this day. He expressed his hope that cooperation between the two agencies will continue to grow and evolve in a manner that serves the mutual interests of both Egypt and China.
(MENA)
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