Egypt important part in new Chinese strategy

Egypt is an important part in the new Chinese strategy that focuses on three pivots, said a Chinese academic.
The three pivots are building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, setting up the Asian bank for infrastructure investment and transferring the industrial sector, especially heavy industries like steel and iron to other countries, the deputy director of the language and Arab culture section at Beijing University told MENA.
Given its strategic geographic location, Egypt will be one of the focal points of the silk road China plans to set up, he said.
He also hoped that Egypt would join the Asian bank for infrastructure investment, saying such a step would enhance Egypt's presence in Asia.
Egypt can be a major industrial center hosting high technologies, he said.
As for the formation of a joint Arab force, he expressed China's support for the formation of a joint Arab force to protect security of the region.
"One cannot hold dialogue with terrorists or reach any political solutions with them so force is the only way to confront them. But there is a dire need to differentiate between terrorists and legitimate opposition powers," he added.
As for the situation in Syria, he said Russia and the US should reach an understanding on the Syrian crisis, saying Egypt can play a role in bringing viewpoints closer.