Together for a more prosperous future for the peoples and humanity

This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the People's Republic of China. Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1956, as an extension of the civilizational and historical ties between two nations whose roots extend deep into history. As we mark this special anniversary between our two friendly countries, we also celebrate the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Egypt as an honored and cherished guest.

Throughout history, Egypt and China have been united by enduring bonds of friendship and a shared legacy of civilizational achievement, embodied by the Nile River, the birthplace of Egyptian civilization and the lifeline of its people, and the mighty Yangtze River, the cradle of Chinese civilization and a timeless source of Chinese wisdom, culture, and philosophy. Through the knowledge, sciences, and innovations they cultivated, these two ancient civilizations made profound contributions to human progress, creating an enduring arc of achievement stretching from the Pyramids of Egypt to the Great Wall of China. Egyptian civilization made seminal contributions to fields such as medicine, engineering, and astronomy, while Chinese civilization pioneered transformative innovations that were remarkably advanced for their time. The knowledge and discoveries generated by these civilizations were transmitted, developed, and built upon by successive generations of scholars and scientists, helping to lay foundations for the Industrial and Technological Revolutions and the unprecedented advances that followed. Without this cumulative intellectual and scientific heritage, humanity could not have attained its present level of development across such a broad range of fields.

This shared legacy reinforces the legitimate aspiration of Egypt and China to participate fully and equitably in contemporary technological progress and to benefit from its advances, which will advance comprehensive and sustainable development for the peoples of both countries and other nations, and enable Egypt and China to continue their historic contribution to the advancement of human civilization.

The two countries were connected by a historic trade route that contributed to the movement of people and goods and extended from the Chinese Silk Road to the Red Sea and the Egyptian Suez Canal, the lifeline of global trade. Along this route, missions and trade caravans journeyed from the coasts of China and Asia to Egyptian ports on the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, which continue to serve today as an indispensable link between East and West.

For centuries, Egyptian ports served as major commercial hubs for the exchange of goods among Asia, Europe, and Africa. These vital routes also enabled the exchange of cultures, knowledge, and ideas between the two peoples, further strengthening the historic bonds between Egypt and China and laying the foundations for centuries of extensive people-to-people, commercial, and cultural interaction. This long history of engagement ultimately culminated in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries seven decades ago — a landmark moment that opened a new chapter in bilateral relations and paved the way for their continued development and flourishing.

Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, at a pivotal moment when Egypt affirmed its support for the right of peoples to freely choose their own political and economic systems. Egypt thereby paved the way for Arab and African relations with China, which have expanded and flourished over the decades, culminating in the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Egypt has consistently adhered to the One-China principle and rejected interference in China's internal affairs. It supported the restoration of China's permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, while China supported Arab rights and the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state. These historic positions remain deeply engraved in the collective memory of both nations as enduring milestones in their relationship. As the Egyptian and Chinese peoples commemorate this cherished anniversary, they recall this shared history not only with pride, but also as a lasting foundation for solidarity and a source of renewed momentum for deeper cooperation, mutual support, and partnership in the years ahead.

Over the past seven decades, Egypt-China relations have witnessed remarkable development, culminating in the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries in 2014, during my first official visit to the People's Republic of China. At that pivotal juncture, Egypt was determined to broaden and deepen its relations with countries across the world, diversify its foreign policy, and reach out to its friends and partners to forge stronger and more comprehensive partnerships founded on mutual respect, solidarity, and mutual benefit.

Egypt also exerted efforts to advance joint development in infrastructure, investment, trade, manufacturing, and technology transfer. China was among the first countries to demonstrate its keenness to consolidate relations with Egypt on the basis of these firmly established principles, which constituted the solid foundation for enduring and longstanding relations that have succeeded in achieving benefits for the two peoples and safeguarding the interests of the two countries.

Accordingly, the comprehensive strategic partnership established by the two countries has brought about a major transformation in bilateral relations. China has become a major trade and economic partner for Egypt, and Chinese direct investments have increased, including in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), which has provided tremendous opportunities for Chinese investors to generate returns and benefit from the significant advantages available to foreign investors in the zone. The SCZONE contains industrial areas hosting numerous factories of international companies from various countries seeking to benefit from these opportunities, as well as from Egypt's geographical location at the heart of the world, as an essential link between East and West.

Chinese companies have also contributed to numerous major national projects, such as the construction of the Central Business District in the New Capital, the launch of the electric railway to the Tenth of Ramadan City, the construction of renewable energy power plants, the development of ports, and other projects that formed part of the Egyptian state's national plans to overhaul its infrastructure, which Egypt undertook with the cooperation with a number of different countries, including China. This has contributed to Egypt's globally advanced position in the field of infrastructure, which is pivotal to laying the foundations for an advanced and integrated industrial base, and transforming Egypt into a global logistics hub for industry, trade, and services.

This significant progress in strengthening and modernizing Egypt's infrastructure has reinforced its position as an attractive destination for major industrial investments from around the world. China has been among the leading countries keen to expand its industrial presence in Egypt and capitalize on the country's strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and the significant investment opportunities and competitive advantages it offers.

Egypt and China share a common commitment to harnessing the synergies between Egypt's strategy for industrial localization and China's strategy for high-quality development, with a view to attracting greater Chinese industrial investment to Egypt. Priority sectors include electric vehicles, energy-storage batteries, renewable energy, electronics, components for seawater desalination plants, shipbuilding, and other advanced industries. This cooperation also extends to promoting technology transfer in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and space sciences, which represent key priorities for economic and technological development and promising avenues for expanding Egypt-China cooperation in the next phase of our strategic partnership.

China's development and its ability to achieve remarkable economic progress and eradicate extreme poverty have been an inspiration to developing countries seeking to realize their aspirations for modernization and advancement. Egypt views this development positively, while at the same time believing that developing countries have a tremendous opportunity to achieve economic advancement in accordance with a development model suited to their respective circumstances and compatible with their historical and cultural contexts. In this vein, it is important to underscore the need to create an appropriate international environment that enables these countries to achieve this desired objective.

From this standpoint, Egypt has played its constructive regional and international role over the past decades and adhered to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and the rules-based international order. Egypt has worked to contribute to supporting international organizations in carrying out their essential role in safeguarding international peace and security. It has made tangible contributions to peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations and participated, alongside all parties of the international community, in efforts to enhance the role of international economic organizations in achieving global sustainable development and advancing the United Nations development goals.

Egypt has firmly maintained its position in support of strengthening the voice of the Global South and promoting its representation in international institutions, in a manner that respects the right of these countries to express their will and takes their concerns into consideration. Egypt has joined a number of emerging institutions and joined BRICS in 2024, as well as the New Development Bank affiliated with it and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. It also joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a dialogue partner, out of its keenness to strengthen South-South dialogue and openness to broad and diverse partnerships with all countries of the world.

I therefore take this opportunity to congratulate China on assuming the BRICS presidency next year, and wish to express that Egypt looks forward to continued coordination and consultation with China in this regard.

Egypt has also adhered to a policy of strategic balance as a guiding principle of Egyptian foreign policy at a time when waves of polarization and competition are intensifying, emphasizing its independent foreign policy and calling for the international community to coordinate its efforts to overcome the global challenges that have come to threaten the entire world. Egypt and China have become partners contributing together to enhancing the role of the Global South in the international system, in a manner that achieves greater justice and fairness for developing countries.

From the same viewpoint, Egypt has undertaken intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East and prevent the escalation and expansion of the conflict, as the region undergoes a dangerous phase of conflicts that threaten regional security and stability and, indeed, threaten international peace and security.

In this context, Egypt and China agree on the necessity of resolving conflicts through peaceful means, taking into consideration the security concerns of all parties, and respecting the sovereignty of states as a basis for the peaceful settlement of conflicts. It is not in the interest of any regional or international party to widen the conflict or exacerbate armed hostilities.

In the same vein, the Nile River has been the foundation of Egyptian civilization and a vital source of its prosperity throughout history. Egypt and its fellow Nile Basin brothers have benefited from the Nile for thousands of years, with its waters serving as a shared resource and a basis for life, development and human well-being. Throughout its history, Egypt has remained committed to supporting the development of the countries of the Nile Basin, particularly in the areas of water resources development and dam construction, including in Sudan and Uganda, and, most recently, through its contribution to the mega-project of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project in Tanzania.

Egypt will remain steadfast in advocating for transboundary cooperation in accordance with the principles and rules of international law, rather than unilateral approaches that result in harm to downstream states. Egypt firmly believes that the sustainable management of shared water resources can only be achieved through prior notification, consultations and consensus among riparian states.

In this regard, Egypt highly values China's position that has affirmed its recognition of the vital importance of the Nile River to Egypt as its principal lifeline, and reiterates the importance of refraining from unilateral measures and strengthening collaboration in good faith to achieve win-win cooperation and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Just as Egypt and China have, over the years, written remarkable chapters in the history of cooperation and friendship between our two countries, we look forward to writing together a new chapter in this enduring relationship, whose roots stretch back thousands of years. We aspire to many more decades of progress and prosperity for our two friendly peoples, and to a future in which the world enjoys greater stability, security, peace, and development.

The author is the president of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.