In early April 2026, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang met with Egyptian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad for International Cooperation, Dr. Samar El-Ahdal, to exchange views on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of development. This meeting between Ambassador Liao Liqiang and Dr. El-Ahdal reflects a significant strategic juncture for China in consolidating the Egyptian-Chinese partnership amidst escalating geopolitical tensions. This coordination between Egypt and China comes within the framework of the celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, as Cairo and Beijing strive to build a community of shared future that offers a sustainable development alternative in the region, far removed from the regional conflicts and military confrontations instigated by Washington and Tel Aviv.
In this context, we note China’s role, in cooperation with Egypt, in disseminating China’s Global Development Initiatives as a soft power tool to enhance its influence in the region, typically within an economic and social framework, rather than as a military confrontation front like Washington’s approach after the Iran-Iraq War. These Egyptian efforts intersect with other international partnerships to disseminate a number of international development initiatives in the face of the American-Israeli war machine in the region. During the same period, Dr. Samar Al-Ahdal discussed debt-swap mechanisms with the German side and prepared to host international conferences on technical cooperation in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank. This matter garnered the attention and monitoring of relevant circles in Beijing and Chinese think tanks concerned with the Middle East, which seek to establish China as a reliable partner in all international development initiatives in Egypt and the region. This developmental relationship between Egypt and China is embodied in massive Chinese investments exceeding $8 billion in Cairo, most notably the China TEDA Zone in the Suez Canal, which is considered a successful model for attracting advanced industries to Egypt. This is in addition to Chinese infrastructure projects in the heart of Cairo, including the Central Business District in the New Administrative Capital, the Alamein Towers, and the high-speed electric train. With China activating its debt-for-development swap program as an innovative financing tool to support Egyptian financial stability in the current phase, amidst emerging regional tensions due to US military intervention policies following the Iran-Iraq War, the disruption of global supply chains, and the impact of these negative US military and security policies on developing countries.
It is noteworthy that the timing of the joint meeting between the Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad for International Cooperation, Dr. Samar Al-Ahdal, is directly linked to strengthening the Chinese Global Development Initiative (GDI). Through this initiative, Egypt seeks to achieve its economic goals in the face of current regional crises and to support a number of national projects in Egypt. This is particularly evident in Ambassador Liao Liqiang’s emphasis, during his meeting with Dr. Samar Al-Ahdal, on advancing vital Chinese projects, including the localization of Chinese industries in Egypt, especially in the areas of electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy, in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the development cooperation strategy for the period 2025-2029. The meeting between the Chinese ambassador and the Egyptian official presents an opportunity to promote the Chinese development and security initiatives GDI & GSI as an alternative model based on joint development and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, within the framework of Great Power Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the Shared Future of Mankind. This is especially relevant given the US military escalation against Iran, all Israeli violations following the Gaza-Iran war, the Israeli Knesset’s approval of the law to execute Palestinian prisoners at the end of March 2016, and all the other turmoil that followed the Iran War. China sees Cairo as a reliable partner for achieving the necessary strategic balance, as Egypt and China adopt a unified stance rejecting US military intervention and favoring diplomatic solutions. This strengthens Egypt’s role as a regional hub for South-South development and cooperation, serving China’s policies, future vision, and global initiatives for peace, development, security, civilization, and global governance.
Here, the Egyptian and Chinese sides seek to activate their comprehensive strategic partnership, especially during times of crisis, to ensure that situations do not spiral out of control and to guarantee the continuation of mediation efforts between Egypt and China to halt armed conflicts in the region and the Middle East. Relations between Egypt and China are witnessing close coordination, particularly after the escalation of regional tensions (the Iran war) and the Israeli Knesset’s passage of the law to execute Palestinian prisoners. Therefore, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its minister, Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, was keen to hold intensive talks with his Chinese counterpart, minister Wang Yi, and the Chinese permanent representative to the Middle East to condemn the American military escalation and Israeli violations, emphasizing the unified and joint Chinese-Egyptian position calling for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of Palestinian rights. This reflects a political consensus to enhance regional stability.
This meeting between the Chinese ambassador and Egyptian official Samar El-Ahdal on April 1, 2026, reflected the depth of the strategic partnership between Cairo and Beijing, focusing primarily on development cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Key points of discussion included strengthening bilateral relations, with both sides emphasizing the strength of historical ties and their commitment to developing these relations in the economic and technological fields. During the meeting, Dr. Samar El-Ahdal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad for International Cooperation in Egypt, discussed with Chinese Ambassador Liao Liqiang ways to implement joint projects that support sustainable development plans in Egypt. Egypt expressed its support for all international initiatives launched by China and its appreciation for China’s role in supporting national projects. China, in turn, affirmed its commitment to expanding its investments and transferring technological expertise to Egypt.
This diplomatic move by China comes in parallel with broader efforts by China in Egypt and other countries in the region to bolster economic and political stability, especially after the Gaza and Iran wars and the Israeli Knesset’s approval of the law to execute Palestinian prisoners at the end of March 2026. The current strategic partnership between Egypt and China focuses on countering Western and American hegemonic policies in the region by promoting Chinese development and national projects in Egypt and the region, within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, such as the TEDA Zone in Ain Sokhna, and technological cooperation. This may not be directly linked to specific regional conflicts but rather serves a broader purpose: to condemn the role of the United States in destabilizing the region and harming the developing Global South. Therefore, Egypt’s decisive stance is to adopt a balanced foreign policy that strengthens economic cooperation with China while maintaining strategic relations with the United States and avoiding direct alliances against any party in the regional context, particularly after the American-Israeli war against Iran.
In the same context, relevant Chinese circles monitored the meeting held on March 28, 2026, between Dr. Samar Al-Ahdal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation, and Mr. Basel Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) in Egypt. This meeting garnered the attention of Chinese circles as it touched upon a key pillar of the Joint Development Cooperation Strategy 2025-2029 signed between the two countries. The aim was to discuss and unify joint efforts between Egypt and China to develop a joint Egyptian-Chinese action plan for the next phase. This plan aims to provide the necessary support for MSMEDA’s programs and activities in Egypt, thereby maximizing their developmental impact, in line with the priorities of the Egyptian state, and under the auspices of Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad.
Here, relevant circles in Beijing are seeking to develop a unified action plan with the Egyptian side, based on the objective of the meeting with Basel Rahmy. CEO of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency in Egypt. The aim is to unify Chinese efforts with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the agency to formulate a comprehensive Chinese action plan supporting entrepreneurship in Egypt. This is a key focus for China, which seeks to share its expertise in supporting small businesses that have contributed to Egypt’s economic boom. The Chinese side also focused on the meeting between the Ministry of International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad for International Cooperation and officials from the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency in Egypt, which aimed to localize complementary Chinese industries in Egypt. The Chinese side viewed the meeting as part of its efforts to establish key industries in Egypt through the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector. This would help reduce reliance on US dollars and strengthen local production chains in Egypt with Chinese assistance and support.
Finally, it is worth noting that, within this framework, Beijing views the cooperation between the Ministry of International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad for International Cooperation and officials of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency in Egypt, as well as the meeting between the Chinese Ambassador to Cairo, Liao Liqiang, and Dr. Samar El-Ahdal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad for International Cooperation, as an opportunity to bolster the China Global Development Initiative. Here, relevant circles in Beijing analyzed this coordination between Samar El-Ahdal, deputy minister of foreign affairs, international cooperation, and Egyptians abroad for international cooperation, and Basel Rahmy. CEO of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency in Egypt, as a step towards activating the Memoranda of Understanding related to the Chinese initiative (GDI). These memoranda include providing training opportunities (approximately 2,000 by 2027) and exchanging technology in various production sectors, which contribute to attracting diverse Chinese investments. Beijing is monitoring these Egyptian initiatives to ensure the creation of a favorable investment environment for Chinese companies (currently around 2,800) wishing to enter the Egyptian market. With integrated technologies and without the need for domestic borrowing, thanks to the full assistance, support, and encouragement of China.
