Under the theme Chinese Modernization: The Style and the World, participants in the Cairo Dialogue Forum emphasized that China's image is that of a defender of free trade and the interests of developing countries amid global turmoil.
They also stressed that cooperation between China, Egypt, and Arab countries in building the Belt and Road Initiative reflects confidence and strength for solidarity and cooperation in facing global challenges.
Participants noted that China is a reliable partner with whom we can work to achieve prosperity, that opening up to the outside world is thriving there, and that the country's development contributes to strengthening the power of peace and progress in the world.
The Xinhua News Agency's Middle East Regional Headquarters organized the forum with the Chinese Embassy in Cairo.
Dr Essam Sharaf, former Prime Minister of Egypt; Liao Liqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Cairo; Mao Lei, Director-General of the Xinhua News Agency's Middle East Regional Bureau; and several ambassadors, researchers, academics, and media professionals attended the conference.
In the beginning, Dr Essam Sharaf reviewed the characteristics of Chinese cooperation.
With Egypt, Arab countries, the global South, and the world, he presented how to understand China's development as a significant determinant for effectively understanding the evolution of relations. Understanding China's modernization process determines the nature of its relations with the world.
Dr Sharaf stated that China is a balance between increasing internal strength and capacity, strengthening cooperation and exchange with the world. This balance represents the character of the Chinese state.
"China grows internally, strengthening internally to cooperate with the world through comprehensive modernization and stimulating global growth, and the world returns to cooperate with it," stated Dr Sharaf.
He added that China is always giving and taking, striving for continuous modernization, which includes a process of comprehensive and profound reform, high-level development, and openness to the world.
He highlighted that China also has a model that refers to the profound characteristics of Chinese civilization, as China seeks to achieve global prosperity as a profound human concept.
For his part, Liao Liqiang noted that Chinese-style modernization is the only correct path reached by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups after long-term discoveries and practices to build a strong state and achieve national rejuvenation.
He stated that the international community is facing profound shocks resulting from unilateralism and hegemony, which are attempting to hinder China's development through tariff and trade wars, threatening the overall growth of the global economy.
China has taken resolute measures and expressed its firm position, raising the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit. It is keeping pace with the trends of the times, represented by multipolarity, economic globalization, and cultural diversity.
"China's development contributes to strengthening the force of peace and progress in the world, and that Chinese-style modernization represents a valuable opportunity for the world. Under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Chinese economy achieved a growth rate of 5 percent in 2024, representing $900 billion, contributing approximately 30 percent of global economic growth," added Liqiang.
"China has maintained its position as a major driver of global economic growth, and China has set a 5 percent economic growth target for this year. During the first quarter of this year, China achieved a growth rate of 5.4 percent year-on-year, placing it among the world's leading economies."
He noted that the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi allowed China to remain Egypt's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years.
Trade between the two countries reached $17.4 billion last year, a 10 percent year-on-year increase.
China is one of the most active and fastest-growing investors in Egypt.
According to Egyptian statistics, cumulative Chinese investments in Egypt reached $9 billion by the end of fiscal year 2023/2024. More than 2,000 companies partially or fully financed by China are registered in Egypt, which reflects China's significant support for Egypt's industrialization.
In recent years, foundation stone laying ceremonies have been held in Egypt for several Chinese projects, and loans in Chinese currency were used for the first time in the China-Egypt Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.
"Chinese -Arab cooperation in all fields is also witnessing good momentum, and the two sides are working to establish. The Five Cooperation Equations proposed by President Xi Jinping will be used to prepare for the second China-Arab Summit next year," he explained.
China is the largest trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions and has signed 23 free trade agreements with 30 countries and territories.
Chinese exports to the United States account for only 14.7 percent of China's total exports, while more than 80 percent are to other countries worldwide.
Ambassador Ezzat Saad, Executive Director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said the forum is an opportunity to deepen understanding of the Chinese model of modernization and how it represents a source of inspiration for the world's peoples.
He stated that it is also a call to build bridges between different civilizations and cultures, which may open new horizons for cooperation in all fields.
He pointed to the success of the Communist Party of China during its first centenary, celebrated in 2021, in achieving its main strategic goals, particularly in eliminating poverty in rural areas for approximately 100 million people.
This means that China has contributed to reducing global poverty by more than 70 percent.
It has also contributed to achieving growth rates of more than 30 percent over the years, which provides a strong impetus to global development in general.
The party has also succeeded in making China the second-largest economic power in the world.
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