The Chinese embassy in Cairo recently marked the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang attended a reception in Cairo, where he highlighted the strong bilateral ties between China and Egypt. The two countries have been celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations, established in 1956. Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China.
Ambassador Liqiang emphasized the significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent state visit to Egypt, which took place from September 1-2. The visit demonstrated the depth of the two countries' strategic partnership and coincided with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. During the visit, Xi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held talks on bilateral and regional issues and oversaw the signing of over 30 cooperation documents.
The cooperation documents covered various areas, including the Belt and Road Initiative, artificial intelligence, trade, industry, and supply chains, the digital economy, science and technology, education, and transport. The two countries also agreed to expand the use of local currencies and facilitate trade and investment. A joint statement on deepening the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership and building a China-Egypt community with a shared future was also issued.
Xi and El-Sisi visited the Grand Egyptian Museum during the state visit, while Cairo Tower was illuminated in red to mark the occasion. The reception at the Chinese embassy was attended by Egyptian officials, diplomats, and public figures. Liqiang highlighted China's economic and technological development, citing a 4.7 percent year-on-year growth in the country's economy in the first half of 2026.
The ambassador also pointed to advances in artificial intelligence, quantum information, integrated circuits, and nuclear fusion. He mentioned that 2026 is the first year of implementation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. Liqiang expressed concern over instability in the Middle East, the ongoing war in Gaza, and renewed conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Liqiang revealed that Xi had presented El-Sisi with a four-point initiative aimed at promoting common security in the Middle East and supporting the development of a regional security framework. The ambassador emphasized China's commitment to supporting dialogue and political solutions to regional conflicts. He stated that China would continue to stand on the side of peace and dialogue, regardless of the complexity of the situation or the intensity of conflicts.
The 70-year relationship between Egypt and China has evolved from cooperation around independence and stability into a broader partnership covering trade, technology, and development. Liqiang cited Chinese and Egyptian proverbs to describe the durability of bilateral ties, highlighting the strength and resilience of the relationship. The anniversary celebration marked a significant milestone in the history of China-Egypt relations.
Key points
- China and Egypt celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations with a focus on economic and strategic cooperation.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent state visit to Egypt resulted in the signing of over 30 cooperation documents.
- The two countries have agreed to expand the use of local currencies and facilitate trade and investment.
