A high-ranking Chinese official, Hong Dayong, has emphasized the significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Egypt, describing it as a historic event that has opened up new avenues for strategic partnership between the two countries. During a speech at the "Global Dialogue on Chinese Studies: The Arab World's Turn" in Cairo, Hong highlighted the importance of the visit and the understandings reached between President Xi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Arab countries, as well as between China and Egypt. Hong stressed that the relations between China and Egypt have been continuously developing in various fields under their comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that both Chinese and Arab civilizations are among the oldest in the world and have made significant contributions to human civilization. The two sides have seen growing exchanges, mutual learning, and academic and cultural cooperation.
Hong mentioned that many Arab countries have established specialized departments to study the Chinese language in their universities. He also noted that nearly 100 works about China have been published, and some classic Chinese works have been translated, contributing to enhanced cultural and intellectual exchanges between the two sides. Furthermore, Hong emphasized the need to strengthen dialogue between academic circles and continue cooperation, proposing several measures to achieve this goal.
Hong highlighted the importance of focusing on building a community with a shared future under the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi. He noted that the initiative has gained widespread support from Arab countries, with around 200 cooperation projects implemented, including a power generation project in southern Cairo and a solar energy project in Saudi Arabia. These projects have supported local development and improved living standards.
The Chinese official also called for researchers to study development issues from a specialized perspective and leverage the intersections between China and Arab countries under the Belt and Road Initiative and national development strategies. He specifically mentioned Egypt's Vision 2030. Hong encouraged scholars to explore ways to resolve regional issues and hotspots, contributing to enhanced security, stability, and development in the region.
In addition, Hong emphasized the need to strengthen mutual cooperation and dialogue between civilizations. He noted that President Xi attaches great importance to cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Arab civilizations. During his visit to Egypt, President Xi visited the Grand Egyptian Museum, highlighting the significance of continued cooperation in inter-civilizational dialogue.
Other attendees at the event, including Mohamed Kamal, director of the Arab Research and Studies Institute, and Zhang Yachuang, chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Cairo, also spoke about the significance of Egypt-China relations. They highlighted the long-standing ties between the two nations, the importance of their strategic partnership, and the potential for further cooperation in various fields, including politics, economy, culture, and academia.
Key points
- President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt has opened up new avenues for strategic partnership between the two nations.
- The visit has led to understandings on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
- China and Egypt are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral ties.
