Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Wednesday witnessed the signing of an agreement and memorandums of understanding between Egyptian and Chinese entities, according to the Egyptian Presidency.
The agreements and memorandums cover cooperation in several fields, including industrial development, investment and other areas aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two countries, said a presidency statement.
Sisi said that the two countries have a “clear political will to elevate the prospects of bilateral cooperation, particularly through localising industry and transferring technology,” according to the statement.
He also said the two countries are launching a new phase of cooperation in renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, textiles and chemical fibers, while announcing the launch of the third phase of expansions at the China-Egypt industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
The two presidents also affirmed their support for efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the war in the region, Egypt's state-linked Al-Qahera News reported.
Xi said Beijing is “keen to elevate relations with Egypt to broader horizons” and will continue “encouraging Chinese companies to increase their investments in the country and benefit from the advantages of the Egyptian market.”
The two leaders held talks in the Egyptian capital Cairo following an official reception ceremony for Xi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, according to an Anadolu correspondent.
The ceremony included the playing of the national anthems of Egypt and China, while artillery fired ceremonial shots in honour of the visiting president.
Xi’s visit is the first by a Chinese president to Egypt in 10 years.
Egypt and China established diplomatic relations in 1956, making Egypt the first Arab and African country to recognise the People’s Republic of China.
Beijing backed Cairo during the 1956 Suez Crisis, while Egypt supported China’s restoration of its seat at the UN in 1971.
The countries established a strategic partnership in 1999, which was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2014 during Sisi’s visit to Beijing.
