President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in Cairo. Egyptian presidency
El-Sisi’s remarks came during his meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in Cairo.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and several ministers and senior officials from both sides.
According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi pointed to the upcoming 70th anniversary of Egypt-China diplomatic relations in 2026.
For his part, Premier Li expressed China's pride in having close bilateral relations with Egypt, which are founded on a long history of strategic partnership, mutual respect, and common interests.
Egypt-China economic ties
During the meeting, President El-Sisi lauded the contributions of Chinese companies to development projects in Egypt, the presidential statement said.
He expressed the country's interest in attracting more Chinese investments, particularly in the sectors of new and renewable energy and electric vehicle manufacturing.
El-Sisi also underscored the importance of increasing Chinese tourism and strengthening cooperation in the manufacturing and development fields in general.
He expressed Egypt's keenness in continuing coordination with China on the issue of debt swaps and the effective implementation of related agreements.
For his part, the Chinese PM noted the rapid development in coordination between Egypt and China on both regional and international levels, appreciating Cairo’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.
According to China's state news agency, Xinhua, Li affirmed that China is willing to strengthen Belt and Road cooperation with Egypt in various areas and encourage more capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Egypt.
He added that China will collaborate with Egypt to advance the stable and long-term progress of China-Arab and China-Africa partnerships.
The Chinese PM further emphasised his country’s keenness to enhance coordination and communication with Egypt within multilateral platforms including the UN, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Xinhua reported.
Middle East crises
According to the Egyptian presidency, both sides also discussed the latest regional and international developments.
They emphasised the importance of maintaining the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, and resuming the diplomatic path to resolve the crisis through peaceful means.
EL-Sisi and Li also stressed the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, and achieving a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause.
For his side, the Chinese Premier said that Beijing stands ready to maintain close communication with Egypt, promote a ceasefire in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
On Wednesday, Li arrived in Cairo on an official visit at the invitation of PM Madbouly.
The Chinese PM's visit comes amid growing collaboration with Egypt.
According to the Egyptian State Information Service (SIS), China is Egypt's third largest trading partner globally, with bilateral trade reaching $2.68 billion in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
In 2024, trade volume between China and Egypt reached $17.378 billion, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
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