Interview with Liao Liqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt: watch and help each other, China and Egypt write a chapter of friendship in a new era

Interview with Liao Liqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt: watch and help each other, China and Egypt write a chapter of friendship in a new era
Source: Xinhua News Agency

Reporter: Wu Danni

Source: Chinese Embassy in Egypt official website

May 30 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. Liao Liqiang, Chinese ambassador to Egypt, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters in Cairo recently that this year marks the 100 anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. Over the past 65 years, China and Egypt have been watching each other and writing a new chapter of friendship against the backdrop of the new crown epidemic sweeping the world.

"The two countries are fighting the epidemic side by side, making a vivid interpretation of the China-Egypt health community and laying a solid foundation for building a China-Egypt community with a shared future." Liao Liqiang said. He said that Egypt has always expressed its sincere support for China in various ways and through practical actions, from the first time sending a presidential special envoy to visit China with anti-epidemic materials to the signing of the Letter of Intent on Cooperation between China and Egypt on New Coronavirus Vaccine and becoming the first group of countries to carry out Phase III clinical trials of national medicine vaccines.

Liao Liqiang said that at the same time, China is one of the earliest and most aid countries to Egypt to fight the epidemic. China provided four batches of anti-epidemic materials to Egypt, provided the latest version of prevention and control and diagnosis and treatment plan at the first time, carried out a number of video exchanges between Chinese and Egyptian experts, established a counterpart cooperation hospital mechanism, and assisted Egypt in establishing a mask production line.

On May 21, a new batch of Chinese medicine vaccines purchased by Egypt from China and the first batch of Kexing vaccine stock arrived in Cairo, making Egypt the first country on the African continent to cooperate with China in the production of new crown vaccines. Egyptian Health Minister Zayed said on the same day that Egypt and China's efforts to unite and cooperate in the fight against the epidemic have not only further deepened the traditional friendship and political mutual trust between the two countries, but also set an example for the international community to fight the epidemic.

The epidemic has not hindered economic and trade exchanges between China and Egypt. Liao Liqiang introduced that in 2020, the import and export volume of bilateral goods between China and Egypt was 14.57 billion billion US dollars, overcoming the impact of the epidemic to a new record high. In the first quarter of this year, the total volume of bilateral trade between China and Egypt reached 4.18 billion billion US dollars, an increase of 32.1 per cent over the same period last year. China has become the most active and fastest growing country in recent years. In 2020, China's new direct investment in Egypt will be 0.19 billion US dollars, and the investment stock in Egypt will exceed 1.2 billion US dollars. In the first quarter of this year, China's new direct investment in Egypt was 83 million billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 134 percent.

The epidemic has not hindered the people-to-people bonds between the two countries. Liao Liqiang said that from the "China-Egypt Cloud Symphony Concert" to the joint archaeological project of the Luxor Montu Temple in China and Egypt, to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between China and Egypt to formally incorporate Chinese teaching into the Egyptian primary and secondary education system, China-Egypt friendship Deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the integration of the two civilizations has entered a new era.

"China and Egypt treat each other sincerely and help each other on the journey of building the country." Liao Liqiang said. He stressed that China and Egypt are both large developing countries and representatives of emerging markets. With the "Belt and Road Initiative" initiative deeply connecting with Egypt's "2030 Vision", China-Egypt practical cooperation has been fruitful: China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone actively helps Egypt's economic development, and the project of Egypt's new administrative capital Central Business District undertaken by Chinese enterprises strives to build Egypt's future skyline, the two sides are also actively promoting all-round pragmatic and in-depth cooperation in military, education, science and technology, tourism and other fields.

The two countries share dreams, concepts and missions. Liao Liqiang pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 65 years ago, bilateral relations have withstood the test of international changes, and political mutual trust has been deepening. China-Egypt relations cover all aspects and all fields, and are a model of China-Arab and China-Africa unity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results.

Liao Liqiang said that in the face of the current international situation full of uncertainties, China is willing to work with Egypt to take the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to be Egypt's good brother in the fight against the epidemic, resume work and resume production, and be a fellow traveler of national rejuvenation, so as to make new contributions to building a model for the China-Arab and China-Africa community with a shared future.