Egyptians tell the story of China: TEDA cooperation zone injects infinite vitality into the local area

Egyptians tell the story of China: TEDA cooperation zone injects infinite vitality into the local area
Source: Guangming Daily (15th edition, October 28, 2021)

Author: She Li (Associate Professor, School of Foreign Languages, University of International Business and Economics)

Shi Yuewen (Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo)

The monthly cultural salon-"China in the Eyes of Egyptians" series of lectures, founded by the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo and the former dean of the School of Letters of Suez Canal University in Egypt and Sinologist Dr. Savi Savi, has been held since 2019.17 issues. A number of Chinese scholars from the political, cultural, and business circles in Egypt were invited to be the keynote speakers. The guests told their own Chinese stories with their own themes, introduced what they saw and heard in China to the Egyptian people, and discussed China's economy and society. Development achievements in cultural and other fields. Nearly 2000 Egyptians and a large number of netizens listened to the lectures and participated in questions, discussions and interactions. Each lecture was co-hosted by the director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo and Savi, and was broadcast simultaneously on social media, which caused great repercussions in Egyptian society. The "Savi Salon" has gradually become a platform that Egyptologists are happy to patronize.

The "the belt and road initiative" initiative is an innovative move in the field of international relations. Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Orabi pointed out in his lecture, "The 'Belt and Road' initiative, as an innovative initiative of the Chinese government to coordinate official and private exchanges with foreign countries, is not only a 'political leap', but also a manifestation of a new type of international relations. The 'Belt and Road' initiative has given Egypt and China, two ancient countries, a great opportunity to rise again in the world." Former Egyptian Prime Minister Issam Sharaf is an old friend of the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo. In his lecture, he combined a large number of investigation and research data, compared and analyzed them, and pointed out: "Ancient China built a bridge of mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations through the land and maritime Silk Road, breaking the relative isolation between the East and the West. China's" Belt and Road Initiative "initiative will more closely and profoundly connect countries along the" Belt and Road Initiative "route, break isolationism and protectionism, realize joint consultation, co-building and sharing, and create a new pattern of open and win-win international cooperation."

The Chinese miracle demonstrates the remarkable advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. Hassan, Dean of the Confucius Institute at Suez Canal University, is the first Egyptian "China Master" to study in China after the reform and opening up. Hassan pointed out in the lecture: "China's stable economic and social development has contributed more to world economic growth than the combined contribution of the United States, Europe and Japan; China has completely eliminated absolute poverty; high-speed rail mileage ranks first in the world, total import and export of goods ranks first in the world, outbound tourism expenditure in the world ...... The Chinese miracle, it vividly demonstrates the significant advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and writes a brilliant epic of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

The Communist Party of China is the core "code" to create the Chinese miracle ". Ahmed Salam, former press counsellor of the Egyptian Embassy in China, combined with what he had seen and heard in his years of work and life in China, pointed out in a special lecture in June this year: "in the early days of the founding of New China, there were many severe difficulties and challenges. While the economy and society are waiting for prosperity, they are also facing pressure and obstacles from the international community, and even experienced many serious natural disasters. The Chinese people have always adhered to the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China. Several generations of Chinese leaders united the people with outstanding wisdom and vision of the times, and finally realized China's great transformation from poverty and weakness to the world's second largest economy, and became an international model of national rejuvenation." Hussein Ismaili, deputy editor-in-chief of the Arabic edition of "China Today" magazine, said: "Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people are united as one and have gathered a huge joint force to promote the country's development and achieve leapfrog development." When answering netizens' questions about the reasons for China's "miracle", Hassan, the dean of the Confucius Institute of Suez Canal University, gave his undoubted answer: "In China, where miracles have been staged one after another, every move of the Communist Party of China has attracted global attention. The Communist Party of China itself is a Chinese miracle. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most distinctive symbol of the Chinese miracle and the core password for creating the Chinese miracle."

In response to some false remarks on Western and Egyptian social networking sites that slander China's Xinjiang policy, former Egyptian ambassador to China Mohamed Nurman held a special lecture and made a clear response to the false remarks. He pointed out that during his work in China, he himself had visited Xinjiang, Tibet and other places many times. In his contact with the local people, what he saw was "the economy is booming, the culture is rich and colorful, and the natural and cultural scene is beautiful. I have experienced the healthy development of China's economy and the harmony and stability of society. Some anti-China forces have reversed black and white and attacked China's legitimate and legitimate actions with the intention of inciting hatred and curbing China's development. As a wise Egyptian people who also have a long history of civilization, they should see the essence through the phenomenon, and should not follow the trend and follow the people's advice".

China sincerely shares the successful experience of reform and opening up with Egypt. When the then President of Egypt visited China in 1994, he witnessed the great achievements of China's reform and opening up, and particularly appreciated the development model of China's special economic zones, so he hoped to learn from China's experience and establish a special economic zone in Egypt with the help of the Chinese government. In 1998, entrusted by the Chinese government, Tianjin TEDA Investment Holding Co., Ltd., the operator of Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone, came to Egypt to help Egypt establish an industrial zone similar to China's "special economic zone"-Suez Special Economic Zone. The developed China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has now become an industrial park with the best comprehensive environment, the largest investment density, and the highest unit output in Egypt. During the interaction with the guests at the scene in the lecture, Sharaf further pointed out: "the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has injected infinite vitality into the local economic and social development, and Egypt should learn from China's development ideas since the reform and opening up. We will promote the rapid development of the Red Sea coastal economic zone and strive to achieve the miracle of 'Shenzhen'-style development."

Since the spring of 2020, the "Savi Salon" at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo has been unable to be held offline for the time being due to the epidemic, but the online lectures have not stopped. The center has invited guests from the Egyptian Ministry of Health, the Wushu Association and other officials, as well as ministers in China, to give lectures on China's experience in fighting epidemics and cooperation between the two countries. The current Minister of the Egyptian Embassy in China, Najla, introduced the tremendous efforts made by the Chinese government and people in the fight against the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, and expressed his appreciation for China's major strategic achievements in the fight against the epidemic, which have attracted worldwide attention. In a video speech in Beijing, she pointed out: "The heads of state of Egypt and China have personally directed the anti-epidemic cooperation. The two sides have always adhered to the principle of life first, helping each other in the same boat and supporting each other, and have achieved one victory after another on the road of anti-epidemic cooperation." Hossam Hassanihou, Assistant Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, pointed out in an online speech: "In the face of the increasingly serious epidemic, Egypt and all countries in the world should follow China as an example, so that everyone pays attention to it and consciously protects it." In a video lecture, Hosseini, Assistant Minister of Health and population of Egypt, gave a detailed introduction to China's medical assistance to Egypt, especially the vaccine cooperation between the two countries, and told the audience in the tone of medical experts that Chinese vaccines are safe, reliable and effective, thus dispelling the concerns of many people.

The "China in the Eyes of Egyptians" salon is based on the understanding and views of senior Egyptian officials and scholars in various fields using their own perspectives and languages, making the lecture a corner for Egyptian elites from all walks of life to freely evaluate China, and it is also a window for them to see China. The people who attended the lecture were of high level, professional and authoritative. Each lecture had a clear theme and closely followed the current situation. Through media promotion, the small-scale "Savi Salon" has become a forum for all sectors of Egyptian society and even the entire Arab world, the Middle East and Africa to understand and understand China.

The original title "China in the Eyes of Egyptians"-Listening to the "Savi Salon" telling the story of China"