Egypt's Sisi receives verbal message from Chinese counterpart on strategic ties

CAIRO - 18 July 2020: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received on Sunday a verbal message from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping who affirmed China's keenness to continue developing its strategic relations with Egypt, said Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Radi in a statement.

 

The Chinese President also voiced his country’s support for Egypt’s efforts regarding the comprehensive development, combating terrorism, and achieving security and stability in the region, Radi added.

 

The message was conveyed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang YI along, who leads a high-level delegation in a three-day visit to Egypt.

 

During his meeting with President Sisi, the Chinese Foreign Minister announced the acceptance of Egypt's accession in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a dialogue partner, Radi said. The SCO aims at promoting cooperation and coordination against terrorism and other external threats, and at maintaining regional peace and stability.

 

President Sisi and the Chinese Foreign Minister also discussed prospects for enhancing aspects of bilateral cooperation, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic crisis that led to a joint manufacturing agreement for the Chinese Sinovac vaccine in Egypt.

 

“The President also stressed the keenness to benefit from the distinguished Chinese expertise in supporting development programs, activities and national projects in the country,” Radi said, adding that the meeting tackled the Chinese initiative, the Belt and Road, Chinese-Egyptian Zone for Economic Cooperation in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

 

The latest developments in the issue of the controversial Grad Ethiopian Renaissance Dam were also discussed, Radi said.  “The President affirmed Egypt's firm position to preserve its water security represented by its historical rights to the Nile waters throughout reaching a binding legal agreement to fill and operate the Renaissance Dam,” Radi added.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang YI said that his country is fully aware of the importance of the Nile River to Egypt, and then China continues its interest in finding a solution to this issue in a manner that meets the interests of all parties.