Xi Jinping tells Sisi China ready to secure Egypt's coronavirus vaccine needs

CAIRO – 22 February 2021: President Xi Jinping affirmed China’s readiness to share its experience in facing the pandemic with Egypt and to supply the Egyptian state with its coronavirus vaccine needs, as he spoke via phone with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Xi Jinping, during the phone call on Monday, affirmed keenness to enhance cooperation between relevant authorities in China and Egypt to contain the coronavirus spread, Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said in a statement.

The phone call comes a day after Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed affirmed that China would grant Egypt 300,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses within hours as a gift.

Egypt already received 50,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses in December, the first vaccine batch to enter the country for the mass vaccination purpose.

“The cooperation between the two countries in the field of combating coronavirus comes as a reflection to the advanced levels and unprecedented strategic ties the bilateral relations between Egypt and China have reached,” the statement cited Xi Jinping as saying.

President Sisi, for his part, hailed the exchange of support between Egypt and China during the pandemic as an evidence to the deep relations bringing together the two countries, the statement read.

Sisi expressed appreciation for China’s decision to send a large number of vaccine doses to vaccinate Egyptian citizens, the statement read.

The statement highlighted aspiration to enhance coordination between the Egyptian and Chinese health care providers in the vaccination field in order to transfer to Egypt the Chinese experience and capabilities.

Sisi highlighted the significant boost the Egyptian-Chinese relations have witnessed over the past years within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Egyptian president reiterated keenness to advance the level of cooperation between Egypt and China and to seek new horizons of bilateral relations, especially concerning attracting Chinese investments and transferring Chinese experience and technology to Egypt.

Sisi also highlighted Egypt’s willingness to continue cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, in order to achieve the two countries’ common interests in development and progress.