CAIRO - For some foreigners, the first days of the Egyptian revolution were really hard, but one experienced diplomat was delighted to have arrived in Cairo shortly, before this dramatic event, which has led to many changes. "I believe that what has happened and is still happening in Egypt is making history, deserving the attention of the whole world," says Chinese Ambassador in Cairo Song Aiguo, who arrived here only a few months, before the Egyptian revolution. Aiguo also served as Ambassador in Cyprus and Turkey. Before coming to Egypt for his third ambassadorial mission, he worked as Director-General of the West Asia and North Africa Department in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, he claims that all his experience is of no use to him now, as the region he used to know is changing dramatically. “As for these changes, everyone should now just wait and see,” adds Aiguo. Relying on his Chinese culture, he believes that change is a must and the status quo that this region has lived with for a long time has to end. "Changes are absolutely necessary for any country, and it's a unique experience to be there when they happen,” explains Aiguo, who believes that these changes, inspired by the Egyptians, will bring happiness and stability to Egypt and the whole world. As for Sino-Egyptian relations, he thinks the only change will be their becoming even stronger. The two countries have much in common. They have ancient civilisations and both struggled against colonial powers, while Egypt was the first country in Africa and the Arab world to recognise and establish strategic ties with the People's Republic of China. "The economic relations between the two countries are improving. Last year, we had a trade volume of $7 billion, an increase of about 20 per cent over the previous year, despite the international economic crisis,” he told The Egyptian Gazette in an interiew “The investments between the two countries have reached $350 million," added the diplomat, who organised an Egyptian-Chinese business meeting in Cairo nearly a month ago – the first business meeting between Egypt and another country since the revolution. The meeting, attended by Fu Ziying, Chinese Vice-Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade, and Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Samir el-Sayyed, witnessed the signing of an MoU between the China Development Bank, the Commercial International Bank of Egypt and CI Capital Holding Egypt, in order to facilitate bilateral economic co-operation between the two countries. During the meeting, Aiguo expressed optimism about the improving economic atmosphere in Egypt, adding that none of the Chinese investors in Egypt has pulled out, while some stopped working for a short time but have started again. A few days later, the Chinese Foreign Minister also visited Egypt. Yang Jiechi met with the head of the ruling Military Council, Mohamed Hussein Tantawy, Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Al-Araby and outgoing Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa to discuss the new situation and changes in the region. Such early steps, according to Aiguo, reflect the Chinese wish to strengthen the relations with Egypt. "One of these areas is culture," he explains, referring to the increase in the number of cultural exchange programmes, as well as Egyptians studying Chinese and Chinese learning Arabic. Aiguo regrets that the Egyptians couldn't enjoy the Chinese cultural programmes, that were going to be held during the Cairo Book Fair, which had to be cancelled due to the unrest in Egypt. But he is very pleased that 100,000 Chinese tourists visited Egypt last year, attracted by the country's rich civilisation. An Egyptian antiquities in China, during the China Expo last year, also proved very popular with the Chinese. Aiguo, who seems to be optimistic by nature, says that there are other things that fuel his optimism for the future of Egypt. "It's the people's will to develop and prosper; they will triumph in the end," he says, adding that some of the problems we have seen in Egypt are only natural in times of great change. “The changes in the Arab world are going to change history in this very important part of the world. China sticks to the fundamentals of its foreign policy, which is to respect the choice of the people and not to interfere in the internal affairs of any country,” he said. However, Aiguo can't hide his appreciation for the Egyptian policymakers who recently succeeded in reconciling the Palestinian factions.
