Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with Chinese Special Envoy for the Middle East Gong Xiaosheng addressing bi-lateral ties as well as challenges in the region. Shoukry received Xiaosheng on Monday, one day after Egypt hosted the Gaza Reconstruction Conference, in which $5.4bn was pledged in aid to Palestine. Over 90 countries sent representatives to the conference which Egypt and Norway co-hosted, and which China attended. The Chinese delegate said his country's participation in the conference was aimed at supporting the Palestinian cause whilst expressing appreciation for the Egyptian role in the Middle East, an Egyptian foreign ministry statement said. Xiaosheng expressed his country's appreciation for Egypt's hosting of the conference. Addressing terrorism, Xiaosheng expressed China's desire to strengthen cooperation and consultation with Egypt on regional issues. This comes amid the various challenges the region is facing, particularly in counterterrorism. He and Shoukry agreed that there is a need "to focus international efforts on combating all terrorist organisations in the Middle East, without an exception". The two sides addressed developments in bi-lateral ties and the need to bolster cooperation in all fields, especially the economic and trade fields. They also discussed encouraging Chinese investment in Egypt. On 8 September, the Egyptian government announced the formation of a new cabinet committee entrusted with increasing Chinese investments in Egypt. The committee will also follow up on China's participation in the country's new development projects. Shoukry told the Chinese envoy that Egypt attaches great importance to enhancing ties and said it is important to intensify mutual visits between the two countries in the coming period. Following the 25 January Revolution, China granted Egypt $48.9m to support the state's security system. The money was also given to finance projects in education and agriculture sectors, and train workers in the railway and small and medium enterprises sectors. On 9 March, the Egyptian government signed an agreement with the Chinese government, for the second year, to access a $24.4m non-refundable grant to fund development projects. As of March, the total value of Chinese development aid programmes in Egypt amounts to $120.3m in non-refundable grants and $304.5m in concessional loans.
