Sisi and Xi Jinping reaffirm Egypt and China's support for efforts to halt the war and de-escalate tensions in the region

Cairo – Khadija Hamouda: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, affirmed their support for efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement to halt the war and for initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Middle East region.

Mohamed El-Shenawy, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, stated in a press release that this came during extensive talks between President el-Sisi and President Xi in Cairo, attended by delegations from both countries, followed by the signing of several memoranda of understanding in various fields of cooperation between the two sides.

The Egyptian presidential spokesperson clarified that the talks focused on numerous regional and international issues of mutual interest. Both Presidents el-Sisi and Xi emphasized the alignment of Egyptian and Chinese views on the necessity of prioritizing diplomatic means to achieve comprehensive and sustainable settlements for crises and conflicts.

According to the statement, President el-Sisi considered the meeting an important opportunity to exchange views and ideas, reaffirming the priority of de-escalation, respecting the sovereignty and security of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan, safeguarding their territorial integrity, ensuring freedom of navigation, and sparing populations from the negative repercussions of the crisis. He pointed out Egypt’s readiness to continue coordinating with all regional and international parties, particularly with China as a pivotal state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to enhance efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions, promoting development initiatives, and addressing international challenges that no single country can handle alone.

Regarding bilateral relations, el-Sisi noted that the Chinese president’s “historic” visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were founded in 1956, when Egypt became the first Arab and African nation to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with China.

He highlighted that bilateral relations have evolved to reach the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, enabling both countries to play an active role in shaping international interactions within a global system undergoing rapid and significant changes in the current phase.

The Egyptian president announced the agreement to launch the third phase of the expansion of the Egyptian-Chinese Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, ushering in a new phase of activities in key sectors such as renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, textiles, and chemical fibers.

For his part, President Xi expressed his country’s appreciation for Egypt’s efforts under President el-Sisi’s leadership to establish peace and stability in its regional environment in the Middle East and Africa, emphasizing the importance of enhancing existing bilateral coordination across various international forums and on regional and international issues of mutual interest, thereby contributing to supporting security and development and resolving conflicts through peaceful means.

Xi also outlined China’s perspective on several regional and international issues, stressing the importance of continuing joint efforts between the two countries to defend the interests of developing nations and enhance their contribution to shaping the future of the international system.

He expressed deep appreciation for the growing cooperative relations with Egypt and Beijing’s commitment to implementing the decisions of the strategic partnership with Cairo announced in 2014.

He noted China’s keenness to elevate these relations to broader horizons and to continue encouraging Chinese companies to increase their investments in Egypt, taking advantage of the opportunities and strengths offered by the Egyptian market and its strategic location.

He also pointed to the continued transfer of expertise and technical cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, which strengthens relations between the two countries and supports the achievement of their shared goals.

The two presidents also agreed to continue working on enhancing bilateral relations and intensifying consultations on issues of mutual interest.

On the sidelines of the visit, several important documents were signed between certain Egyptian entities and their Chinese counterparts, in addition to the memoranda of understanding witnessed by Presidents el-Sisi and Xi during the signing ceremonies.