Chinese PM to visit Egypt amid growing political, economic, military ties - Foreign Affairs
The visit comes at the invitation of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and follows a period of intensified diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries.
In May, Madbouly publicly welcomed an anticipated visit by the Chinese president and praised Beijing's support for Egypt in international forums. That same month, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders reaffirmed a five-year framework for cooperation and marked the 10th anniversary of elevating their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to prioritize technology transfer and industrial investment as part of broader economic collaboration.
Egypt and China have a long history of diplomatic relations. Egypt was the first Arab and African nation to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1956.
Economic ties
China and Egypt have strengthened economic ties in recent years, with Cairo seeking a larger share of Chinese investment in Africa. In May, Madbouly expressed hope that Egypt would benefit from the $52 billion in African investment announced at the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
Chinese companies are involved in several large-scale projects in Egypt, including infrastructure development, port expansion, and the development of the electric railway system. The Central Business District in the New Administrative Capital is also being developed with Chinese involvement.
According to Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), trade between the two countries reached a peak of $16.6 billion in 2022. In Q4 2024, China was Egypt's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $4.31 billion, surpassing the United States at $2 billion, according to the Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC).
The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) reports that 2,800 Chinese companies operate in Egypt, with total investments exceeding $8 billion. These include firms such as OPPO, Huawei, Midea, and Haier.
GAFI is working to attract additional Chinese investment in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, textiles, electronics, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence, per the authority's CEO, Hossam Heiba. Plans are underway to establish a Chinese textile zone in Minya Governorate, in collaboration with the China National Textile and Apparel Council, under the export-supportive free zone system. Three Chinese companies — Haier, Midea, and Shen Feng — have been granted the golden license, consolidating all approvals required to establish and operate their businesses. In May, GAC Automotive announced a $300 million investment to build a car manufacturing plant in the country.
Trade between Egypt and China rose from $11.9 billion in January 2022 to $15.7 billion by January 2024. Egypt is also a participant in China's Belt and Road Initiative, through which it is seeking to upgrade infrastructure in energy, transport, and communications.
Military ties
Military cooperation between Egypt and China has also expanded. In April, the two countries held their first joint air force drills—Eagles of Civilisation 2025—at the Wadi Abu Rish Air Base near the Gulf of Suez.
According to Egypt's Ministry of Defence, the exercise included joint air sorties, combat simulations, and training on air operations planning. China's Ministry of National Defence described the drill as a milestone in military cooperation between the two countries.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
FM Abdelatty reaffirms Egypt support for Sudan's sovereignty and unity - Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty reiterated on Wednesday Egypt's continued support for Sudan's sovereignty, national institutions, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as its rejection of any measures that threaten Sudan's unity. During a phone call with his Sudanese counterpart Omar Siddiq, Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Abdelatty also highlighted Cairo's efforts to preserve the Sudanese people's resources and Egypt's active role in the discussions within the framework of the International Quartet on Sudan. For his part, the Sudanese FM expressed his appreciation for Egypt's continued support of Sudan's sovereignty and security. He also aspired to enhance relations between the two nations. On Monday, the Egyptian National Railways Authority announced that it will operate a designated train to facilitate the return of Sudanese nationals and their families to their homeland. Egypt, a haven for refugees from neighbouring countries fleeing conflicts in recent years, currently accommodates the largest Sudanese refugee population, who have fled their country since the outbreak of intense conflict. Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The destructive war has plunged the nation into what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire push - Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and US President Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff discussed on Wednesday efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza. During a phone call, both sides also discussed efforts to ensure the unconditioned entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of captives and detainees. They reviewed the joint efforts by the three guarantor parties ( Egypt, the US, and Qatar) to secure a ceasefire in Gaza by intensifying pressure to reach a deal as soon as possible. During the call, Abdelatty shed light on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza caused by the flagrant Israeli violations and starvation policies against the Palestinians in the strip. He also highlighted Egypt's efforts to facilitate the swift resumption of Iranian talks on its nuclear programme, both with the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Egyptian FM's call came during his visit to Washington, DC, following participation in the UN international conference on the two-state solution in New York. The call also comes amid an expected visit by the US envoy to Israel. Since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Egypt has been actively mediating ceasefire efforts to halt the deadly war and end the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people in the besieged strip. On Friday, Cairo and Doha said in a joint statement that they are continuing to mediate efforts to halt the war in Gaza, end humanitarian suffering, and facilitate a captive-prisoner exchange. The Egyptian-Qatari confirmation came less than 24 hours after the US and Israel withdrew from indirect Gaza ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
PM Madbouly slams ‘distortion campaign' of Egypt role in Palestinian cause
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly slammed what he described as a "systematic campaign to undermine and distort Egypt's role in the Palestinian cause," reaffirming the country's steadfast commitment to supporting the rights of the Palestinians. Speaking at a press conference following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Madbouly emphasised Egypt's continuous efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. "Egypt has not hesitated for a single day to provide relief to our brothers in Palestine," he asserted. Madbouly reiterated President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's recent remarks, highlighting Egypt's "firm stance against any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause through schemes," a reference to deportation attempts. Furthermore, the Egyptian FM directly addressed what he called an attempt to "export" blame onto Egypt, stating, "There has not been a day or a moment where Egypt stopped seeking to bring aid into Gaza and supporting our people there." He criticised the deliberate attempts by some to portray the Rafah crossing simply as a gate that Egypt keeps shut and whose opening would resolve the issue of aid flow. In contrast, Madbouly clarified that the Rafah crossing, intended primarily for individuals, has two sides, only one of which lies in Egypt. The other side, he added, is located in Gaza and is currently controlled by Israeli forces. The Egyptian FM further explained that the Palestinian side of the crossing has been significantly destroyed and that Israeli forces established a buffer zone that severely restricts movement, including that of Palestinian residents. He affirmed that despite these challenges, Cairo persistently brought in aid through both the Rafah crossing and the Karm Abu Salem crossing. Madbouly pointed out Israeli intransigence in opening the crossing. He stressed that up to 1,200 aid trucks remain stalled for days and even weeks in front of ports awaiting permission to enter Gaza. The Egyptian FM also asserted that Egypt has incurred massive losses due to the consequences of the Israeli war in Gaza, including over a 60 percent drop in Suez Canal revenues. He affirmed that despite these losses, Egypt never hesitated to assist Gaza's population. In addition, Madbouly reiterated Cairo's firm stance that "there will be no permanent and sustainable solution, no permanent and sustainable peace in this region except with a two-state solution." Similarly, Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar outlined Egypt's comprehensive medical response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. He noted that since the beginning of the crisis, Egypt established a committee within the health ministry, immediately preparing 37 hospitals across eight governorates, including key facilities in North Sinai, to receive the injured and patients from Gaza. Abdel Ghaffar added that the number of hospitals handling Palestinian cases subsequently grew to 300 across 26 governorates within 662 days. He indicated that 172 hospitals in 24 governorates are currently actively providing medical care for Palestinian patients. The health minister also noted that Egypt has deployed over 38,000 doctors from all specialities and nearly 25,000 nursing staff over the past 21 months to treat patients from Gaza. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
