Staff report: CAIRO, June 27, 2018 - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has reiterated Egypt's interest in continuing to promote economic and trade co-operation with China and stressed the country's keenness to attract additional Chinese investments. Speaking to a visiting member of the Politbureau of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, Chen Min'er, during their meeting Wednesday, President Sisi explained the factors underlying Egypt's interest in elevating economic ties with China and attracting additional Chinese investments, the Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Bassam Radi, said in a statement following the meeting. The president made special reference in this context to the availability of a diversity of investment opportunities that have been opened as a result of the ongoing programme for comprehensive economic reform and the security stability now permeating Egypt, Spokesman Radi said in the statement. Also underlying Egypt's interest in expanding economic and trade co-operation with China, President Sisi said, are the existence of a favourable legislative environment and Egypt's distinguished geographical location which opens the way for trade with Arab, African and European markets. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, the Chinese Ambassador to Cairo, Song Aiguo, and a number of members of the Chinese Communist Party attended President Sisi's meeting with Mr Chen Min'er. At the start of the meeting, the Egyptian leader welcomed Mr Min'er and the accompanying delegation and praised the historical relations between Egypt and China especially now that these relations have risen to the level of full strategic partnership in various fields, Spokesman Radi said. President Sisi also noted in this regard the existing coordination between Egypt and China on regional and international issues of mutual concern, the presidency spokesman added. As regards issues of the Middle East region, President Sisi stressed that Egypt deals with regional crises on the basis of a firm principle, the framework of which is the achievement of a political solution parallel to supporting national institutions, Ambassador Radi said. Elaborating, President Sisi emphasised that Egypt's approach to dealing with crises in the region is also based upon non-interference in the domestic affairs of countries of the region, respecting their sovereignty, maintaining their territorial integrity, respecting the will of peoples and supporting the national armies given that they are considered the first institution in charge of the maintenance of security and realisation of stability. For his part, the visiting Chinese senior CP official emphasised his country's appreciation for the central role Egypt is undertaking in the Middle East as well as for Egypt's efforts to lay the foundations for peace, stability and development in the region, Spokesman Radi said in his statement. Reflecting such appreciation, the visiting Chinese CP official added, are the number and level of the visits exchanged between Egypt and China. Mr Min'er then underscored his country's keenness on continuing to consolidate and develop relations with Egypt in all fields in the interest of the peoples of the two countries. China, he added, views with due regard at both official and popular levels, the Egyptian civilisation as well as the efforts that the Egyptian state in now undertaking for the realisation of comprehensive development, Spokesman Radi said. Before the meeting with the Egyptian leader Wednesday, Foreign Minister Shoukri had conferred with the senior Chinese visitor and his accompanying delegation for a consideration of ways to develop bilateral relations in all fields and a review of a number of regional issues of mutual concern. During the session, Minister Shoukri lauded the evolution of historical relations between Egypt and China to the level of full strategic partnership as so evidenced by President Sisi's paying of 4 visits to China on different occasions as well as by the building of distinguished relations between the Egyptian and Chinese leaderships, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zaid said in a statement. The visiting delegation indicated that China is looking forward to Egypt taking part in some such events as the Sino-Africa summit due to be held in Beijing in September this year and the international fair scheduled to open in Shanghai in November, in addition to the ministerial-level Arab-Chinese Forum that will be convened in Beijing on the 10th of next month.
