Egypt, China Deepen Strategic Partnership

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty recently wrapped up a two-day visit to China, where he co-chaired the China-Egypt foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue and explored ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.

The visit coincided with the 10th anniversary of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, offering a chance to review achievements and explore future growth.

In the past decade, China-Egypt ties have flourished. Chinese investments in Egypt surged over 300% between 2017 and 2022. Smart cities and green development have gained prominence, with Egypt becoming a key African trading partner for China. Bilateral trade reached nearly $16 billion in 2023. The growing partnership underscores both countries’ commitment to advance trade relations according to their mutual agreements.

Abdelatty’s visit also signifies a step forward in China-Egypt cooperation on Global South interests. Their decision to strengthen solidarity with Global South countries is commendable for several reasons.

First, the partnership reflects a strong belief in South-South cooperation, as shown by Egypt’s advocacy for increased development financing at October’s BRICS Plus meeting. The proposal emphasized expanding multilateral development banks, including the New Development Bank. As Beijing and Egypt strengthen ties within BRICS, they seek solutions to the Global South’s infrastructure challenges.

Second, Egypt and China have demonstrated a commitment to strengthening knowledge and expertise sharing with the Global South, necessitating deeper cooperation in this domain. Egypt promotes its “South-South and Triangular Economic Cooperation” strategy to share expertise, while China contributes through sustainable food security and climate resilience initiatives. These aligned efforts position Egypt and China as leaders in Global South development. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi emphasizes mutually beneficial projects to advance developing nations across various sectors. China, as a leading example, is actively embracing a range of industrial fields, including artificial intelligence and green energy, to boost Global South development in the coming year.

Egypt and China have cultivated a robust and dynamic partnership marked by significant strides in development cooperation. A prime example is Egypt’s electrified light rail transit (LRT) system, which was built jointly by Chinese and Egyptian companies. This infrastructure project connects the New Administrative Capital with several key Egyptian cities and districts, enhancing connectivity and economic growth.

The China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (SETC-Zone), a flagship project within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), demonstrates the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation. This initiative aims to deliver substantial economic benefits and improve lives in both countries. The future of China-Egypt development cooperation shows immense promise.

In recent years, Chinese investments have surged to more than a third of total investment in the past two years. This capital influx has created thousands of new jobs in Egypt and established the TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone as a trade hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. The TEDA zone, leveraging Egypt’s location and strong bilateral ties, serves as a model for both the BRI and Egypt’s Suez Canal development plan. Beijing and Cairo’s commitment to enhancing BRI cooperation marks a milestone in their pursuit of development.

The SETC-Zone, a flagship BRI project, demonstrates the domestic and international benefits of China-Egypt cooperation. The project complements Suez Canal expansion efforts and strengthens Egypt’s economic growth. This cooperation aligns with Egypt’s 2030 Sustainable Development Vision, emphasizing economic development and innovation. TEDA has become a hub for Chinese companies that are expanding production, creating jobs and transforming Egyptian industries. Through BRI cooperation, Egypt and China aim to enhance international trade and regional market access. Egypt’s strategic location, combined with Chinese investments and industrial support, highlights the partnership’s potential.

Ultimately, Abdelatty’s visit to China affirms both nations’ commitment to regional stability, BRI cooperation and South-South engagement. The longstanding relationship shows promising growth ahead.

The author is a foreign affairs commentator, author and recipient of the Fulbright Award.