President El-Sisi Heads to Beijing for a State Visit and to Attend China-Arab Cooperation Forum

CAIRO – 27 May 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi heads to the Chinese capital Beijing, upon an invitation from President of China, Xi Jinping, to pay a state visit to the People's Republic of China. The visit will include summit talks between President El-Sisi and President Xi, as well as meetings with senior Chinese officials. Discussions will tackle ways to forge closer bilateral relations and to unlock broader prospects for cooperation in an array of fields. The visit coincides with the tenth anniversary of elevating relations between Egypt and China to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Counselor Dr. Ahmed Fahmy, said the talks will also focus on a multitude of regional and international issues of common interest, primarily the war in Gaza and ways to restore stability in the region, in order to achieve the aspirations of its peoples for peace, security, and development.

President El-Sisi is also scheduled to meet with the heads of several major Chinese companies operating in various fields. The meetings are expected to explore opportunities to attract more investments to Egypt, in light of the state's orientation toward enhancing mechanisms for the localization of industry and technology transfer, by collaborating closely with the private sector and encouraging foreign direct investment.

During his visit, the President will also attend the opening session of the tenth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which will be held on May 30th, with the participation of the Chinese President and a number of Arab leaders. The forum is expected to discuss various aspects of China-Arab relations and ways to further advance them.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry departed from Brussels to Beijing this afternoon, Monday, May 27, to participate in the tenth ministerial meeting of the Arab-Chinese States Cooperation Forum, scheduled for May 30, said Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and Director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The spokesman highlighted that the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum serves as a crucial platform for dialogue and collaboration between Arab nations and China.

Its inception traces back to September 2004, when the founding document was signed at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, following a visit by the Chinese president at the time, he continued.