Egyptian government has signed the agreement of Silk Road Economic Belt with China during the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping to Egypt , Egyptian trade minister Tarek Qabil said Friday. Silk Road Economic Belt is one of the most prominent agreements that have been signed during the visit since it will connect the West and East from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea through Egypt. The route is set to link the African continent with China with railway and maritime routes. Xi arrived in Cairo on Wednesday in the first visit by a Chinese president to Egypt in 12 years. He held talks with Al-Sisi and was due to address the Cairo-based Arab League. Qabil noted that the agreement targets strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations between China and Asian, African, and European countries. He added that this step comes among Chinese government's approach to achieve comprehensive development through joint development with its global partners. Qabil clarified that Chinese government has formed similar agreements with states located alongside Silk Road Economic Belt notably Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Qatar, and Kuwait. The agreement is considered as a general framework for the bilateral cooperation between Egypt and China in a number of fields notably infrastructure and transportation, the minister pointed out. Qabil stated that Silk Road Economic Belt includes cooperating in policies coordination field through holding discussions and organising visits periodically to upgrade strategies, plans, and policies between Egypt and China. The agreement also encompasses enhancing the Egyptian-Chinese cooperation in infrastructure field including ports, high ways, railways, civil aviation, and power plant. The Silk Road is an ancient network of trade routes that were central to cultural interaction connecting the West and East from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea.
