Between 25 and 27 April President Abdel-Fatah Al-Sisi attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRFIC), his sixth visit to China since assuming office in 2014. During his stay Al-Sisi held talks with China's President Xi Jinping on ways to boost the strategic partnership between the two countries. They also discussed regional and international issues and the Chinese president underscored Beijing's support of Egypt's efforts to combat terrorism and root out extremism in the Middle East. Xi Jinping lauded Egypt's reform efforts and confirmed the Chinese government's commitment to Egypt's development process while President Al-Sisi hailed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its role in promoting comprehensive development and realising aspirations for stability and prosperity. Proposed by the Chinese president in 2013, more than 150 countries and international organisations, from Asia and Europe to Africa, Americas and Oceania, have signed BRI cooperation documents with China. President Al-Sisi said Egypt's current chairmanship of the African Union adds an important strategic dimension to its participation in BRI. He promised to employ Egypt's capabilities to support the initiative, facilitate sustainable development, and build cultural, artistic and intellectual bridges between participating peoples. Egypt's development priorities, Al-Sisi continued, are aligned with the BRI and its aim of enhancing economic cooperation and trade among participant countries and strengthening coordination between them. He noted the role of the Suez Canal in this regard, as well as the network or ports being developed in Egypt, and stressed the importance of technological transfers. During his attendance at BRFIC Al-Sisi also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and used the opportunity to underline Egypt's determination to strengthen the partnership with the Russian Federation. The two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement during Al-Sisi's most recent visit to Russia in October 2018. Several projects are underway between the two states, including the Russian industrial zone in East Port Said and the Dabaa nuclear generator on Egypt's north coast. The two also discussed the resumption of Russian flights to Egypt with Putin commending efforts by the Egyptian authorities to secure airports. Al-Sisi also met with Chinese businessmen to discuss economic cooperation between Cairo and Beijing. He confirmed that the Egyptian government is keen to resolve any obstacles in the way of Chinese investment. He applauded China's successful development model and said Egypt was keen to benefit from China's experience of maximising the role of technological innovation as an engine of growth. Egypt's president stressed the investment opportunities available in the country's mega projects, particularly those centred on the Suez Canal which offer strategic advantages to Chinese companies seeking to benefit from Egypt's strategic position as a production hub and base for exports to countries in the Arab region, Africa and Europe with which Egypt has signed free trade agreements. Al-Sisi confirmed Egypt's keenness to benefit from China's experience in engineering comprehensive economic development. He said he looked forward to encouraging more Chinese companies to open business, invest and participate in the many projects being implemented in Egypt and to the Chinese government adopting measures to encourage imports from Egypt, particularly in the non-petroleum sector.
