Chinese envoy says Belt and Road Initiative to promote Middle East peace process

CAIRO-- The Belt and Road Initiative may become China's most significant contribution to the Middle East peace process, China's special envoy on Middle East affairs said in Cairo during his recent visit to Egypt.

China seeks comprehensive solutions to the Middle East crisis, and an essential part of it will be economic restoration, where the Belt and Road Initiative will conjoin with restoration plans of regional countries, Gong Xiaosheng said in an interview with Chinese media outlets in Cairo.

BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE ECONOMIC SOLUTION TO CRISIS

"The ancient Silk Road witnessed frequent trade and cultural exchanges between the Arab world and China, which is part of the reason why the Middle East countries have been so eager to cooperate with China after the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013," Gong said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.

As a senior diplomat who started his career working in Egypt almost 40 years ago, Gong hailed the robust economic and trade cooperation between the region and China.

"When I visited some Middle East countries in 1995, there were almost no Chinese commodities in the market. But seven years later I found half of the goods in an Emirati supermarket were made in China," he said, adding that the economic ties would only be more active in the future.

Furthermore, Gong said he believes Belt and Road Initiative will contribute to the Middle East peace process.

Regional countries stuck in crisis will start after-conflict restoration process sooner or later, Gong said, adding that economic issues like renovating infrastructure and creating jobs will be relevant again.

"I think the Belt and Road Initiative is highly likely to become China's most significant contribution to the Middle East peace process because it will provide the economic solution the region needs," Gong said.

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