During his participation at the FOCAC summit, held on 4-6 September, Madbouly met leaders of major Chinese corporations, including Wan Ping, chairman of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, and Song Hailiang, chairman of China Energy Engineering Corporation, during which they discussed the Egyptian-Chinese ties in engineering and investment fields.

According to the Egyptian cabinet, PM Madbouly met Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China.

During the meeting, PM Madbouly emphasized the agreement of Egypt and China on key international issues, particularly the importance of peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.

He reiterated Egypt's support for the One China principle, underscoring China's strategic partnership with Egypt in addressing global challenges and expressing Egypt's aspiration to collaborate with China within international frameworks, particularly the BRICS group.

On the regional front, Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt's steadfast position on the Palestinian cause, advocating for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and outlining Cairo's ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire and provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

For his part, the Chinese president outlined his country's stance on the Palestinian cause, calling for a ceasefire, delivering humanitarian aid, implementing the two-state solution, and highlighting the significant impact of the Gaza conflict on regional peace and security.

Leji also underscored China's role in hosting dialogue between Palestinian factions, promoting peace, unifying Palestinian groups, and achieving a fair and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause.

The 2024 FOCAC Summit, the largest diplomatic event since the COVID-19 pandemic, features the participation of several heads of state and government.

The summit, which convenes every three years, alternates between one of the African countries and China.

This week's summit comes as African leaders eye mounting great power competition between the US and China over resources and influence on the continent.

China, the world's number two economy, is Africa's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $167.8 billion in the first half of this year, according to Chinese media.