The call addressed regional developments amid escalating tensions across the Middle East, with the two ministers stressing that continued military escalation risks undermining regional and international peace and security and that intensified diplomatic efforts are needed to prevent the war from widening.
Abdelatty said Egypt condemns Iran’s targeting of Gulf states, stressing that such actions must stop immediately and underscoring the need to respect state sovereignty, principles of good neighborliness, and international law, a statement by the ministry added.
Both ministers also emphasized that diplomacy remains the only viable path to contain the current crisis, calling for regional and international coordination and continued engagement with all relevant parties to halt the war and de-escalate tensions as Israel-US attacks continue.
Beyond regional issues, the two sides discussed ways to deepen Egypt–China relations, with Abdelatty conveying greetings from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the Chinese president and expressing appreciation for the strong ties and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
The ministers praised the significant progress achieved in bilateral relations in recent years across political and economic fields, as well as the exchange of high-level visits between Cairo and Beijing.
They also expressed their aspiration to continue advancing cooperation in a way that reflects the depth of the strategic partnership and serves the mutual interests of both countries, particularly as Egypt and China mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
For his part, Wang Yi conveyed greetings from the Chinese president to President El-Sisi and expressed Beijing’s appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal role in regional stability, while also voicing China’s interest in further strengthening strategic cooperation with Cairo.
Abdelatty also highlighted the importance of economic cooperation, praising Chinese investments in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) and expressing Egypt’s interest in increasing Chinese investments in the industrial sector to help localize manufacturing, transfer technology, and strengthen industrial supply chains.
He further noted ongoing financial cooperation between the two countries, including the currency swap agreement, expressing Egypt’s interest in expanding its value.
Abdelatty also referred to Egypt’s issuance of $500 million in Chinese-denominated “panda bonds” and its plans to expand such instruments while enhancing cooperation with the China Development Bank to secure additional foreign-currency financing.
The call also touched on Egypt’s water security, with Abdelatty stressing the importance of cooperation and integration among Nile Basin countries to achieve mutual benefit.
He emphasized the need to uphold consensus and reject unilateral measures in managing the Nile’s resources, while Wang Yi expressed understanding of Egypt’s water-security concerns.
The call comes as regional tensions have sharply escalated following the outbreak of war on the last day of February, which has triggered missile and drone attacks across several Middle Eastern countries and raised fears of a wider regional confrontation.
Egypt has repeatedly warned that the expanding conflict could destabilize energy markets, disrupt global supply chains, and threaten the security of key maritime routes.
Cairo has intensified diplomatic contacts with regional and international partners in recent days to contain the escalation and promote de-escalation through political and diplomatic channels.
Egyptian officials have also expressed solidarity with the Gulf states and called for the respect of state sovereignty and international law.
China has been Egypt’s largest trading partner for more than a decade, with bilateral trade reaching about $17 billion in 2024, dominated by Egyptian imports of Chinese machinery and electronics.
Chinese investment in Egypt has expanded significantly over the past decade, particularly in the SCZone. The flagship TEDA–Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna hosts more than 140 companies with total investments exceeding $3 billion, generating over 10,000 direct jobs, according to SCZone figures.
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