Interview: Egypt, China committed to better future through mutually beneficial cooperation, says Egyptian expert

CAIRO, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Over the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Egypt and China have remained committed to shaping a better shared future through mutually beneficial cooperation, an Egyptian expert has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Ahmed Kandil, head of the International Relations Unit at Egypt's Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said the Egyptian-Chinese partnership has evolved "from a historic friendship and traditional cooperation into a forward-looking comprehensive strategic partnership."

Kandil also serves as editor-in-chief of "The Strategic Report on Egyptian-Chinese Relations 2024-2025," which was released recently by the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies to mark the 70th anniversary of Egypt-China diplomatic relations.

According to the report, cooperation between the two countries has expanded far beyond trade and investment to include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space technology, green energy, and digital infrastructure.

"We are witnessing a qualitative transformation in bilateral economic relations," he said. "This is a shift from conventional trade toward value creation and the localization of strategic industries."

He highlighted Chinese investment in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, particularly the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, as a flagship example of mutually beneficial cooperation.

"Chinese investment is not confined to individual projects," he said. "It has become an investment in the foundations of Egypt's economic strength, spanning industry, energy, technology, logistics, finance, and the green economy."

Recalling that Egypt became the first Arab and African nation to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China in 1956, Kandil said, "The relationship was never built on narrow interests ... It has always rested on profound political and civilizational foundations, including support for national independence, opposition to hegemony, and respect for state sovereignty."

The two countries today enjoy broad strategic convergence on major international issues, including reform of global governance, support for a multipolar world order, respect for diverse development paths and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, he added.

Talking about the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the expert said Egypt is uniquely positioned to play a larger role in the BRI, citing its strategic location at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, and its extensive network of trade agreements providing access to Arab, African and European markets.

These advantages place Egypt in a strong position not only to participate in the BRI but also to become an active partner in jointly shaping the future of Egypt-China cooperation, said Kandil.

For countries of the Global South, including Egypt, China-proposed initiatives including the BRI offer broader opportunities for financing, technology transfer, investment, and infrastructure development, while providing greater strategic flexibility within an evolving international landscape, he added.