Chinese president's talks in Cairo to tackle international issues, suicide combat

Egyptian Ambassador here Magdy Amer highlighted the importance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt as part of a Middle East tour and his meeting with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Interviewed by MENA correspondent in Beijing, Amer said the two presidents' talks will cover regional and international issues as well as terrorism combat.

He said the Chinese leader's visit to Egypt is the first of its kind in 12 years as the last visit by a Chinese president to Egypt was in 2004.

The visit comes at a time the two countries celebrate this year the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, the ambassador noted, adding that celebrating this occasion reflects a common resolve by both sides to address regional issues as well as working to contain the region's crises.

Amer also said the visit comes at a critical time for the world economy and a conflict-rife Middle East.

The Egyptian ambassador highlighted the importance of the Egyptian-Sino summit in view of the international economic problems, noting that this meeting would be the first between the two leaders in the wake of G20 Summit and after the new international agreement on climate that was signed in Paris.

A political statement is expected to be released on the outcome of the visit, the ambassador said, noting that an executive program for bolstering the two countries' relations would be declared to outline the plans for the coming five years. This program is based on the comprehensive strategic agreement that was signed between the two countries in December 2014 as well as other relevant agreements on projects which are currently under construction in Egypt, he added.

Other projects to be negotiated concern transportation and railway, he said, noting that the most important project is the electric train in the 10th of Ramadan City.

The Egyptian diplomat went on to say that China has showed interest in taking part in the construction of the new administrative capital and negotiations with the Egyptian government are still underway.

The diplomat revealed that an agreement would be signed with China whereby it will grant the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) a loan of dlrs a billion to boot the foreign reserve, a loan for the National Bank of Egypt worth dlrs 700 million as well as a loan of dlrs 100 million to Banque Misr to finance small and medium-scale projects.

The ambassador asserted that Egypt has supported the initiative of the Chinese president to rebuild the ancient Silk Road with the aim of bolstering relations among countries located on this road.

Source: MENA