The workshop, held under the theme Exchanging Expertise between Egypt and China in the Field of Economic Development, comes as part of the activation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) during Minister Rania Al-Mashat’s visit to China in July 2024.
Participating officials represented key economic institutions, including the ministries of Planning, Transport, Industry, Investment and Foreign Trade, as well as the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). The programme aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation through peer learning and the exchange of best practices in macroeconomic policy, industrial development, technological innovation, and sustainable growth.
Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat affirmed that the activation of the MoU reflects the depth of strategic ties between Cairo and Beijing.
“This step translates our shared commitment to transforming agreements into tangible outcomes that support Egypt’s development agenda,” she said.
Al-Mashat highlighted the importance of leveraging China’s development experience, particularly in planning and economic reform, to support Egypt’s Vision 2030 and broader structural transformation. She also pointed to the Belt and Road Initiative as a key framework for enhancing Chinese investment flows and boosting bilateral trade.
The workshop featured in-depth sessions on China’s reform and opening-up experience, the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), and strategies for building green and low-carbon economies. Discussions also covered poverty alleviation, industrial infrastructure, and the role of the digital economy in driving high-quality growth.
To complement the theoretical exchange, the Egyptian delegation conducted field visits to several flagship development sites, including the Xiong’an New Area—touted as a model for sustainable urban planning—the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone (Lingang New Area), and Wusi Village in Fengxian District, known for its integrated rural development model.
These visits offered participants a firsthand look at China’s development planning mechanisms and implementation strategies, reinforcing Egypt’s efforts to localize global best practices in governance and economic management.
The workshop marks a new milestone in Egypt-China cooperation, reinforcing the ministry’s ongoing efforts to build institutional capacity and strengthen the human development pillar of Egypt’s national development strategy.
Bilateral trade between Egypt and China exceeded $17 billion in 2024, underscoring the accelerating pace of economic cooperation between the two nations.
Chinese investments in Egypt, particularly within the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), have witnessed notable expansion, reflecting Beijing’s growing confidence in Egypt’s strategic development framework and investment climate.
Egypt’s geographic location at the intersection of Africa and Asia continues to position it as a pivotal node in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing regional connectivity and fostering cross-border development.
This strategic role was further consolidated by Egypt’s accession to the BRICS group in 2024, a landmark diplomatic and economic achievement that adds a multilateral dimension to its partnership with China and opens new avenues for South-South cooperation.
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