Egypt's Ismailia Governorate signed a cooperation agreement on Sunday with the Chinese city of Yangzhou during the 2025 World Canal Cities Forum, aiming to strengthen ties in services, investment, culture, and tourism. The deal seeks to attract new Chinese partners and investors and enhance Ismailia's position on Egypt's tourism and economic map, the governorate said in a statement. The annual forum, held in Yangzhou, brought together representatives from more than 60 countries — including Egypt, China, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Japan, and Panama — as well as ambassadors, mayors, governors, and experts in canal management, culture, and tourism. Discussions focused on preserving cultural heritage, managing water resources and ecosystems, promoting cultural tourism, and fostering cooperation among canal cities worldwide. Delegations from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America exchanged expertise and development experiences. In his opening remarks, Ismailia Governor Akram Mohamed Galal reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to green economy principles as part of Egypt Vision 2030, highlighting local projects in waste recycling, solar energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly industrial zones supporting small and medium enterprises. The ministry of local development said Ismailia's participation in the forum underscores Egypt's efforts to strengthen international cooperation and promote sustainable development across its governorates. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
