Dr. Rania Al-Mashat affirms the continuous development of Egyptian-Chinese relations since the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2014
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, received Ambassador Khaled Nazmy, the new Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the People's Republic of China.
During the meeting, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat commended the strong historical ties between Egypt and China,highlighting the continuous development of their relationship over the past years, particularly following the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2014.
H.E. Minister Al-Mashat emphasized that China is one of Egypt's most important development partners and is linked to multiple areas of cooperation, especially in the fields of infrastructure, scientific research, investment in human capital, health, education, and other priority sectors.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the ongoing development of Egyptian-Chinese economic relations is reflected in many aspects, the most important of which is the signing of the first MoU of its kind in the field of debt-for-development swaps, making Egypt the first country to sign this type of agreement with the China International Development Cooperation Agency, in October 2023 during the meetings of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum.
Regarding the most prominent and important development projects between Egypt and China, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat referred to the artificial limb system development project, which enjoys presidential attention.
The project aims to make Egypt a regional center in the Middle East and Africa to provide artificial limbs and prosthetic devices for people with special needs and to have the manufacturing capacity for them according to internationally approved standard specifications.
H.E. expressed aspiration for continued cooperation with the Chinese side in implementing the project.
It is worth noting that Egypt and China enjoy strong historical relations, as both countries are among the most important and oldest civilizations in the world. This has formed a solid foundation for the continued distinction of relations between the two countries during the past decades.
Although Egyptian-Chinese relations at the level of development cooperation began in the 1990s, they have made leaps since 2014, when H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, visited the People's Republic of China and signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Chinese side.
During her visit to China last July, to participate in the activities of the second edition of the International Action Forum for Joint Development, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, signed three MoUs with the Chinese side to enhance cooperation in the field of exchanging experiences and cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, to enhance economic cooperation by benefiting from experiences and practices related to macroeconomics, industrial development, renewable energy, technological innovation, and sustainable development. One of the memoranda focused on enhancing cooperation in the field of applying the "Beidou" satellite navigation system (BDS), given the importance of this system in achieving economic and social development. Another MoU on a project to enhance and expand the manufacturing of assistive technology products and provide services through the establishment of a center of excellence for people with motor disabilities in Egypt.