‘China is a key partner in Egypt's economic future,' says Egyptian president as Chinese premier expresses readiness to expand Belt and Road Initiative cooperation with Cairo
Egypt and China affirmed their commitment on Thursday to strengthening cooperation across a broad range of sectors, as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Cairo for high-level talks aimed at deepening bilateral ties.
The meeting, which included Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and senior officials from both countries, focused on expanding economic cooperation and preparing for the 70th anniversary of Egypt-China diplomatic relations in 2026, the presidency said in a statement.
Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and welcomed Beijing's growing role in Egypt's development efforts.
He also expressed interest in attracting more Chinese investment, particularly in renewable energy, electric vehicle production, and tourism.
“China is a key partner in Egypt's economic future,” Sisi said, emphasizing the importance of coordinating on debt-swap mechanisms and ensuring effective implementation of bilateral agreements.
Premier Li echoed similar views, saying China is eyeing an expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation with Egypt. He pointed to key areas for growth, including trade, finance, manufacturing, new energy, science and technology, and cultural exchange.
“We are willing to encourage more capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Egypt,” Li said in his statements carried by China's state-run news agency Xinhua.
Li arrived in Cairo early Wednesday for an official visit for talks with Egyptian officials. Before his visit to Egypt, he attended the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
China is one of the top commercial partners of Egypt, with bilateral trade hovering around $14 billion annually. The two sides have also expanded defense cooperation, with Chinese and Egyptian air forces holding their first joint drill this April.
