China and Egypt have become a model of solidarity, cooperation, and mutual benefit. By integrating China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Egypt’s Vision 2030, China and Egypt continue to innovate new forms of cooperation and expand areas of mutual cooperation. This aligns with Egyptian President “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s strategy ”to advance Egypt in various fields and sectors with Chinese participation. In recent years, under the leadership of President “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi”, Egypt has been working to implement Egypt Vision 2030, the Decent Life Initiative, the Digital Egypt Strategy, and the National Climate Change Strategy 2050. Egypt also recently officially launched the National Dialogue Strategy to foster rapprochement and openness among all. With Chinese assistance, Egypt is taking new and continuous steps to independently explore modernization through numerous Chinese development projects and opportunities, including the Suez Canal Special Economic Zone, Ain Sokhna, and the Central Business District in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. These projects serve Egypt’s interests through comprehensive strategic development, economic, and investment partnerships with China.
Here, we note that the structural economic reform Egypt began in 2016 led to the signing of a currency swap agreement with China, as well as infrastructure projects. Furthermore, all of Egyptian President El-Sisi’s visits to China in 2014 and 2019, as well as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Egypt in 2016 and President El-Sisi’s recent visits to China, focused on a strategic economic partnership between the two parties. China and Egypt need, more than ever, to steadfastly support each other and defend the principle of a multipolar system, international multipolarity, and a multipolar international system. They also need to uphold the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of others, considering it the golden rule of international relations and the magic weapon for protecting developing countries and the developing countries of the Global South, led by China. China and Egypt share similar concepts and strategies regarding defending their interests, pursuing common development, enhancing the well-being of the people, and promoting global justice. They also adhere to the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, supporting multipolarity, opposing the politicization of human rights issues, opposing unilateralism, and promoting the building of a new type of international relations.
China is the largest foreign investor in Egypt, contributing to numerous projects, such as the Central Business District in the New Administrative Capital, the high-speed electric train project, and the El Alamein City Towers, among others. These projects represent real and new forms of pragmatic cooperation between China and Egypt, effectively promoting the implementation of global development initiatives in Egypt, contributing to supporting economic and social development on the Egyptian side, and training a large number of young Egyptian professionals and technicians.
Economic cooperation between China and Egypt has increased, especially after the establishment of the China-Egypt Special Economic Zone in Ain Sokhna. China also provides concessional loans to Egypt to finance development projects, and Egypt participates in the Asian Development Bank, of which China is the largest shareholder. Joint investment between the two countries has also witnessed a remarkable boom, especially after Cairo moved to encourage foreign investors with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s recent economic reforms. As a result, most foreign investors who expanded their investments in Egypt were from China, a result of the strength of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Egypt also affirms the “One China policy” and opposes any attempts to divide it, while China assists Egypt, with material and technical assistance, in its efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. Egypt has a consistent foreign policy regarding the situation in Taiwan and supports the “One China principle” for the sake of global stability and security. With significant Egyptian and popular support for China’s cause and its commitment to non-interference in Taiwan’s affairs, the most prominent of which is the initiative of a number of Chinese-friendly Egyptian political parties, such as the Nation’s Future Party, the Republican People’s Party, the Tagammu Party, and the Egyptian Socialist Party, among others. This is in addition to the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association, a number of Egyptian think tanks and media outlets, and numerous experts, researchers, and others from various political and academic circles in Egypt. These voices have been actively and intensively raised to condemn former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and to support the One China Principle. This creates a just momentum in Egypt to support China’s causes.
There are many commonalities that unite Egypt and China, more than any other country, whether in their cultural dimension or in the convergence of positions and mutual support between them in many situations, as both support each other in international forums. Therefore, the importance of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Egyptian relations lies in deepening the shared achievements made between the two parties. Therefore, it has become crucial to capitalize on the celebration of the Golden Decade last year in 2024 to launch the comprehensive strategic partnership signed during President El-Sisi’s visit to Beijing in 2014. This partnership has evolved from mere strategic cooperation to a strategic partnership, then a comprehensive strategy.
The relationship between Egypt and China has become a model of cooperation, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes, a policy pursued by China with Arab, African, Islamic, and developing countries. China pursues a balanced policy in its relations with all, in addition to its commitment to managing the foundations of cooperation and dialogue between South-South countries, with Egypt at the forefront, as it is the key to entering the African continent. Here, relations between Egypt and China are heading towards further progress in various fields. Chinese investments in Egypt are expected to increase significantly in the future, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, renewable energy, and technological innovation. Furthermore, the volume of trade between the two countries is expected to increase significantly with the continued implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative projects and Egypt’s role as a trade gateway for China in Africa being strengthened. On the political front, security cooperation between the two countries is expected to continue to address common security challenges, such as: (terrorism and cybercrime).
Egyptian-Chinese coordination is also expected to increase in international forums, especially in light of the joint Egyptian-Chinese membership in the (BRICS and G20). This is in addition to Egypt’s role in the Global South, cooperation among the countries of the Global South, and South-South dialogue, with China as its leader, responsible and global supporter, as the largest developing country in the world. China is also taking numerous steps to enhance openness to Egypt and the countries of the region, not limited to diplomatic relations with official regimes and governments, but also through deepening communication with the peoples. This begins with its academic foundations, whether for university students or research centers, and the role of the Egyptian-Chinese and Arab friendship associations in strengthening the foundations of popular friendship and cultural dialogue between the two sides.
Egyptian-Chinese relations are promising for the next golden decade, having transitioned from a phase of cooperation to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Egypt is keen to strengthen the Chinese tourism market within Egypt, with efforts being made to increase the number of Chinese tourists to 30,000 annually, nearly doubling the current figure of approximately 14,000. This is especially true given the presence of a direct flight between the two countries, daily flights, and 27 weekly flights from Cairo Airport to Beijing and destinations in five other Chinese cities.
Egypt is also keen to have China participate in numerous forums focused on future innovation, most notably the Global Action Forum for Shared Development. Egypt has been keen to participate to support Egyptian-Chinese relations, with the participation of numerous government representatives and decision-makers. The forum focuses on discussing aspects of international cooperation and innovation in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which aligns with the Egyptian government’s plan.
Egypt’s policy of encouraging a transition to a “green economy and clean energy” is also consistent with China’s promising strategy in this field, given China’s commitment to promoting green and low-carbon development and fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This aligns with Egypt’s national strategy to promote the green transformation of energy and industrial structure and achieve sustainable development.
Accordingly, future cooperation between Egypt and China is based on the principles of dialogue among developing countries of the Global South. As the world’s largest developing country, China is positioned to offer assistance to all, in accordance with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s principle of “a shared future for mankind.” Here, China has worked to keep the world in mind, as the primary goal of China and its leadership is to achieve modernization, not just self-development without regard for others. This goal also provides new development opportunities for countries around the world, including Egypt, while achieving self-development.
