On the afternoon of May 29, 2024, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who is in China to attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and to pay a state visit.
Xi Jinping noted that 68 years ago, Egypt was the first Arab and African state to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Despite changes in the international situation, the two countries have enjoyed mutual trust and sincere cooperation and worked hand in hand for development. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership. Over the past decade, the two heads of state have worked together to guide the vigorous development of bilateral relations. China-Egypt relations have become a vivid illustration of the solidarity, coordination, and win-win cooperation between China and Arab, African, Islamic and other developing countries. Under the new circumstances, building a more substantive and dynamic China-Egypt relationship meets the common expectations of the two peoples. China is ready to work with Egypt to continuously deepen mutual trust, advance cooperation, build a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, and contribute to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Xi Jinping stressed that China is advancing the noble cause of building itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, and China and Egypt are facing historical opportunities for exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The two sides should continue to firmly support each other and work together to promote common development. China is ready to work with Egypt to tap the potential of cooperation in traditional areas like infrastructure, industry, electricity and agriculture, explore cooperation in emerging areas such as health care, information and communication and renewable energy, deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation, and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Egypt. Efforts will also be made to ensure the success of the 2024 China-Egypt Year of Partnership, expand personnel exchanges and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and make the Luban Workshop in Egypt a benchmark for China-Africa cooperation on vocational education.
Xi Jinping stressed that China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, to champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and the common interests of developing countries. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. China stands ready to maintain close communication and cooperation with Egypt and other parties to build a successful China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, continuously inject new impetus into the development of China-Arab relations, and promote the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. China is also ready to work with Egypt and other African members of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and work together to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed his great pleasure to pay a state visit to China and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. He noted that the world is undergoing profound and complex changes, and the Middle East is in deep crisis. Egypt expects work with China to further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and strive to promote regional peace and stability. Egypt adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China's position on issues concerning to its core interests such as issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xizang and human rights, and firmly supports China in achieving complete national reunification. Egypt welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and engage in cooperation in Egypt to help with the development of Egypt's manufacturing industry and industrialization process. He expressed the hope that the two sides will take the opportunity of the 2024 Egypt-China Year of Partnership to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as information and communication, artificial intelligence, new energy, food security and finance. The Egyptian side appreciates the series of global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and stands ready to work closely with China in multilateral settings to make positive contributions to human peace and progress.
The two sides also had an exchange of views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi Jinping pointed out that the Chinese side is deeply saddened by the massive casualties of innocent civilians caused by the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict in Palestine and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The pressing task now is to achieve an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, prevent spillovers of the conflict from undermining regional peace and stability, and avoid a more serious humanitarian crisis. Xi Jinping said that the two-State solution is the fundamental way to resolve the Palestinian question, and China firmly supports Palestine becoming a full member of the United Nations. China commends Egypt's important role in helping to cool down the situation and delivering humanitarian relief, and is ready to work with Egypt to continue providing assistance to the people in Gaza to the best of its ability, and promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said Egypt highly appreciates China's commitment to upholding justice and an impartial position on the Palestinian question, and stands ready to maintain close communication with China to promote an early easing of tensions in Gaza.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the plan for advancing Belt and Road cooperation,and other bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as scientific and technological innovation, investment and economic cooperation and quarantine.
The two sides also issued a Joint Statement on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between the People's Republic of China and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People.
Upon Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's arrival, honor guard lined up in salutation. As the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Egypt, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi then reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.
In the evening, Xi Jinping held a welcoming banquet for Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi was present at the above events.
