China, Egypt agree to strengthen communication and coordination

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Cairo, and the two sides agreed to continue to strengthen communication and coordination under frameworks such as BRICS and the United Nations.

Under the guidance of the two heads of state, political mutual trust between China and Egypt continues to be consolidated, and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He added that the two countries demonstrate the responsibility of major countries in international and regional issues, with the development of bilateral relations entering the fast lane and reaching its best level.

China firmly supports Egypt to choose a development path that suits its own conditions, oppose external meddling in its internal affairs, safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, pursue an independent foreign policy, and play a more important role in international and regional affairs, Wang said.

Expressing appreciation for Egypt's active response to the Belt and Road cooperation, Wang said China is willing to strengthen the alignment of the two countries' development strategies and promote practical cooperation to achieve greater results and advance their respective modernization processes.

Noting that Egypt is an important Arab, African, Islamic and developing country, Wang once again congratulated Egypt on becoming a new member of the BRICS.

China is willing to work with Egypt to promote a more equal and orderly multi-polarization as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang said.

Sisi said he attaches great importance to the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership and is willing to establish a closer partnership with China and expand cooperation in various fields.

The Egyptian leader reiterated that Egypt will always adhere to the one-China principle and oppose any interference in China's internal affairs.

Expressing his gratitude to China for its strong support for Egypt's economic and social development, Sisi said that the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by Egypt and China has achieved remarkable results.

Sisi also thanked Chinese enterprises for their "important contribution" to Egypt's national construction and economic development and welcomed more Chinese investments in Egypt.

On the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip, the two sides agreed that a ceasefire and an end to violence should be achieved as soon as possible to prevent the conflict from further spilling over.

(With input from Xinhua)