Cairo, September 2 (Xinhua) — “As one of the most important mechanisms for China Africa cooperation, the importance of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation is not only reflected in the economic aspect, but also as a platform for collective dialogue between Africa and China.” On the occasion of leading a delegation to attend the Forum on China Africa Cooperation summit in early September, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madebli said in a written interview with Xinhua reporters that the Forum on China Africa Cooperation has enriched the development connotation of Africa China relations and achieved fruitful results.
On January 14, 2024, Egyptian Prime Minister Madbri (front left) inspected the Central Business District project of Egypt’s new administrative capital. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Li Binghong)
Looking back at the situation when the Forum was established in 2000 and the achievements of today’s Africa China cooperation, we can see that Africa China relations and cooperation have made significant progress and development, which is remarkable in various fields, “said Madbury.
In Madebuli’s view, the upcoming 2024 Forum on China Africa Cooperation summit will further promote the development of cooperation between the two sides, and the priority areas of cooperation in the next stage can focus on the challenges currently faced by the African continent.
Africa is increasingly aware of the severity of these challenges and is determined to make changes to make the continent more self reliant, especially in meeting the basic needs of its people and food needs, “said Madbury.
He pointed out that Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with New China, reflecting the uniqueness of the long-standing relationship between the two countries. Since then, the relationship between the two sides has continued to develop, and both sides have a profound understanding of each other’s positions on regional and international issues.
Madbury said that in recent years, Egypt, together with China, has made contributions to promoting the development of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation and the Forum on China Arab Cooperation. “Egypt is one of the first countries to join the” the Belt and Road “initiative, and actively responds to China’s global development initiative, global security initiative and global civilization initiative. This year, Egypt and China celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership.” He believes that the two sides have formed a multi-level cooperation framework.
Madbury has visited China many times, the most recent of which was to attend the third “the Belt and Road” International Cooperation Summit Forum last October. During the interview, he particularly talked about the key projects of the cooperation between the two countries to jointly build the “the Belt and Road” – China Egypt Teda Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (Teda Cooperation Zone) and the new administrative capital of Egypt, the Central Business District.
Madbury said that the TEDA Cooperation Zone, which was founded in 2008, has attracted many enterprises involved in new building materials, high and low voltage equipment and machinery manufacturing, and has gradually become a model project for the joint construction of the “the Belt and Road” initiative and Egypt’s “Suez Canal Corridor Economic Belt”. The cooperation zone intends to attract new energy and green low-carbon development projects in the future.
When it comes to the Central Business District project of Egypt’s new administrative capital undertaken by a Chinese company, Madbury said that this project is the largest project implemented by a Chinese enterprise in Egypt, reflecting the excellent cooperative relationship between Egypt and China, and is a major achievement of bilateral cooperation.
Madbury emphasized that Egypt is benefiting from sharing development achievements with China, and the Egyptian government appreciates the tangible achievements of Egypt China cooperation in the past decade. Egypt is eager to further develop this relationship and is working hard to consolidate and strengthen its cooperative relationship with China, “Madbury said.” Egypt looks forward to cooperating with China to implement more development projects
Madbury believes that in the next stage, both parties can focus on joint investment, green energy, industrial localization, and vocational and technical talent training. We will strive to attract more Chinese investment in the future, especially in areas of common interest, including new and renewable energy, green economy, digitization, green hydrogen production, and waste recycling. At the same time, we will attach importance to investment in the tourism industry, especially the tourism hotel industry
In January 2024, Egypt became an official member of the BRICS countries. Madbury believes that this reflects the deep connection between Egypt and the BRICS countries, and brings many opportunities for deepening cooperation between the two sides. He said, “Egypt is willing to make effective contributions within the framework of the BRICS cooperation mechanism and achieve constructive cooperation with other members
Regarding the role played by Egypt and China in easing tensions in the Middle East, Madbury stated that the two countries share the same view on the importance of maintaining security in the region. He pointed out that Egypt will continue to work with China to avoid further escalation of the regional situation, while supporting the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and promoting a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue based on the “two-state solution”.