Egypt, China Deepen Strategic Partnership in High-Level Talks

On Tuesday, Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly received Li Shulei, Member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Cairo, alongside a senior Chinese delegation. The meeting marked a renewed commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between Egypt and China across political, economic, and cultural dimensions.

The Prime Minister welcomed the high-level Chinese delegation at the government headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital and reaffirmed Egypt’s appreciation for the longstanding and historic ties between the two nations. He described the visit as a reflection of the strength of bilateral relations, which have seen remarkable growth over the past decade since their elevation to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Dr. Madbouly highlighted Egypt’s interest in attracting a portion of the $52 billion in Chinese investments pledged to Africa during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), calling for a specific focus on directing Chinese capital toward Egyptian development projects. He praised the contributions of Chinese companies in infrastructure, high-speed rail, port development, and the business district of the New Capital, and emphasized the government’s ambition to welcome further investment in Egypt’s industrial and technological sectors.

The Prime Minister also pointed to the Suez Canal Economic Zone as a key area for Chinese industrial relocation, especially in fields such as electric vehicles and mobile phone manufacturing. He called for stronger cooperation in localizing industries and technology transfer, noting Egypt’s strategic geographic position and regional market access.

Dr. Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the One-China policy and commended China’s principled position on non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. He expressed optimism about President Xi Jinping’s anticipated visit to Egypt, which he said would be a milestone in advancing bilateral cooperation.

On cultural ties, the Prime Minister voiced Egypt’s desire to boost Chinese tourism and promote cultural exchange. He noted that Chinese citizens are now eligible for visas upon arrival at Egyptian airports and called for expanded direct flight routes to strengthen tourism between the two countries.

Li Shulei, representing the CPC leadership, conveyed greetings from the Chinese Prime Minister and commended Egypt’s political, economic, and social achievements over the past decade. He remarked on the transformation of Cairo and Alexandria since his previous visit 20 years ago and praised Egypt’s preservation of its historical and architectural heritage.

Li emphasized the shared civilizational depth of both nations and reiterated China’s interest in advancing cooperation with Egypt in tourism, culture, media, and heritage preservation. He pledged to encourage Chinese media to promote Egypt’s rich history and culture, contributing to increased tourism from China. He also voiced China's eagerness to partner with Egypt on the preservation of antiquities and historical sites.

Li affirmed that many Chinese investors are genuinely interested in entering the Egyptian market and that the Chinese government is committed to expanding cooperation with Egypt in ways that support both countries' development goals.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to enhance cooperation across strategic sectors and to translate the historical bonds between Egypt and China into greater economic integration, cultural exchange, and mutual development.