President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi concluded this week one of his most successful visits to China, reflecting his vision of the need to build diverse, strategic partnerships with key world powers in order to benefit the process of economic and social development in Egypt. Al-Sisi attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRFIC), China's ambitious project in which Egypt is looking forward to playing a central role. Considering the priority Cairo has given to developing ties with China, evident through six visits to the Chinese capital by Al-Sisi over the past five years, the Egyptian leader was one of the few participants who delivered a keynote speech at the Leaders' Roundtable Summit. He also held several important summits with participating world leaders, topped with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli Maurer, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and United Arab Emirates Vice President and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashed Al-Maktoum. Heads of state and government from 37 countries and other representatives from around the world took part in the three-day BRFIC event. Al-Sisi's participation in the summit, and the meetings he held in Beijing were clear evidence of the progress Egypt achieved over the past five years amid very difficult domestic and regional conditions. The Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders Al-Sisi met confirmed their support for the development process in Egypt, lauded the economic reforms introduced by the government, as well as its success in achieving security and stability and implement several mega projects that provide promising investment opportunities. Al-Sisi expressed keenness to be an active partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative, which he said aims at strengthening comprehensive development for BRFIC countries and fulfilling the aspirations of their peoples for stability and prosperity. Egypt's current chairmanship of the African Union (AU) and its central role in the Cairo-based Arab League will further allow Egypt to boost cooperation with Beijing and to back proposed development projects under the Belt and Road Initiative at the African and Arab levels. In his meeting with the Chinese leader, Al-Sisi confirmed Egypt's interest in enhancing partnerships within the Belt and Road Initiative and to expand its contribution to promoting sustainable development and extending cultural, technical and intellectual bridges among nations and peoples. He also asserted Egypt's desire to benefit from China's development expertise, paving the way towards an overall economic renaissance. However, relations with China, as well as other major world powers, should always be balanced and beneficial to both sides. While Egypt welcomes mega Chinese investments in national projects in Egypt, such as the New Administrative Capital or the Suez Canal Development Corridor, Cairo also hopes that the Chinese government will take further steps towards encouraging Egyptian exports and their entry into the Chinese market, which could in turn contribute to cutting the trade deficit between the two countries. Cairo also is eager to benefit from the growing advances China made in technology, by introducing new technologies in Egypt and providing training for Egyptian engineers and workers. The talks held between Al-Sisi and Russian President Putin were also of great importance, considering Russia's vital role in several regional issues, particularly in Syria, Libya and efforts to revive long-stalled peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis. Bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Russia has also reached unprecedented levels, especially after the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between the two countries in October 2018. Moscow is currently a key partner in several fields and future projects, notably the establishment of the Russian industrial zone in East Port Said area and Al-Dabaa nuclear power plant. What Egyptians expect from Russia, hopefully very soon, is a decision to resume flights between Moscow and Red Sea resorts of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada after beefing up security in the airports of both cities to the highest international standards. Al-Sisi's participation in this important summit in China was testimony by the world on the positive changes that have been taking place in Egypt, as well as growing investment opportunities in the Egyptian market. All this will certainly benefit the people of Egypt who patiently bared the burdens of economic reform, and will soon harvest the fruits, through improvement in their living standards, job opportunities and social services, topped with better education and healthcare.
