Liao Liqiang: 2020 is a new brilliant year for China and Egypt

Liao Liqiang: 2020 is a new brilliant year for China and Egypt
Source: International Online

Reporter: Lu Junhong/Mi Chunze.

The coming 2020 is also an unusual year for China and Egypt. Liao Liqiang, Chinese ambassador to Egypt, said in a recent interview with a reporter from China Central Radio and Television in Egypt that looking back on this year, after the baptism of joining hands to fight the epidemic, the foundation of Sino-Egyptian relations has become stronger, the cooperation between the two countries has become more extensive, and the friendly relations between the two countries have become deeper. In the history of friendly exchanges between the two ancient civilizations of China and Egypt, 2020 will be a special year for engraving new achievements and writing new brilliance.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang
Reporter: Hello Ambassador! Looking back at 2020, what new progress has been made in the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Egypt?

Liao Liqiang: 2020 is a watershed year in the process of human history. In the history of friendly exchanges between the two ancient civilizations of China and Egypt, it will also be a special year to engrave new achievements and write new brilliance. Mainly reflected in six aspects:

First, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt has reached a new level. At the beginning of this year, during his visit to Egypt, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi reached an important consensus with President Sisi and Foreign Minister Shukri, agreeing to move towards the goal of building a community with a shared future in the new era, raise the level of bilateral relations, and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt to a new level. In March of this year, President Xi Jinping and President Sessi reached a strategic consensus on promoting the construction of a China-Egypt community with a shared future and turning China-Egypt relations into a pilot model for building a China-Arab and China-Africa community with a shared future. Long-term development points the way.

Second, China and Egypt are good brothers against the epidemic. Over the past year, under the personal guidance of the two heads of state, China and Egypt have worked hand in hand, stood together through thick and thin, and helped each other, interpreting the profound connotation of a community with a shared future for mankind with practical actions to cooperate in the fight against the epidemic.

In March 2020, Egyptian President's Special Envoy and Minister of Health Halle left for a visit to China to express support for China's fight against the epidemic.

In April 2020, the first batch of anti-epidemic materials from the Chinese government to Egypt arrived in Cairo.
At the most difficult time in China's fight against the epidemic, Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Haley, as President Sisi's special envoy, brought the second batch of medical supplies to China and was the first Minister of Health to visit China after the outbreak.
The Chinese side reciprocated by providing Egypt with assistance within its capacity and actively building a China-Egypt health community. The Chinese Embassy in Egypt has successively handed over four batches of aid materials from the Chinese government to Egypt to the Egyptian government, provided Egypt with the latest version of the diagnosis and treatment plan and prevention and control plan in a timely manner, and organized experts from both sides to hold 9 video conferences to assist the testing institutions of the two countries in carrying out peer-to-peer technical exchanges. The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China, Elmanir Affiliated Hospital of Cairo University, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital and Ain Shams University Hospital have respectively formed counterpart cooperation hospitals. The Egyptian side has repeatedly said that China's support is of great help to Egypt's fight against the epidemic.

In April 2020, the Chinese Embassy in Egypt issued "health kits" and epidemic prevention materials to Chinese students and representatives of overseas Chinese in Egypt.
The third is to adhere to the supremacy of the people and the supremacy of life, actively practice "diplomacy for the people", and make every effort to ensure the health and safety of overseas Chinese in Egypt, overseas students, Confucius Institute teachers, and Chinese-funded enterprises in Egypt. In the early days of the epidemic, the embassy promptly established a "temporary Chinese tourists to Egypt filing system", urged the Egyptian side to take measures to ensure the smooth departure of Chinese tourists, assisted tourists in changing their air tickets, and steadily resolved the problem of more than 2000 Chinese tourists stranded. In order to solve the shortage of epidemic prevention materials for Chinese citizens in Egypt, the embassy has distributed 8 batches of epidemic prevention materials to overseas Chinese groups in Egypt, student associations and scattered overseas Chinese, covering more than 8000 people. Six medical expert connections and three psychological counseling video conferences were held to answer questions for Chinese in Egypt. The embassy also urged Egypt to designate Cairo University Hospital and International Peace Hospital as designated hospitals for Chinese citizens, and to reserve 10 beds for treatment in private hospitals for a long time.

The Embassy actively guided Chinese enterprises to establish an epidemic prevention and control mechanism, to ensure the smooth flow of the "air lifeline" at the most stringent moment of epidemic prevention and control in Egypt, to promote Sichuan Airlines to adhere to a weekly flight, to ensure smooth movement of personnel and goods between China and Egypt, and to continue to implement major projects in Egypt.

The consular security personnel of the embassy are on duty 24 hours a day, receiving more than 100 calls every day, handling 107 major consular protection cases throughout the year, issuing more than 80 consular reminders of various types, and striving to extend the love bridge built by the motherland and overseas travelers to every corner, To deliver the love and warmth of the motherland to every compatriot.

Fourth, China-Egypt cooperation has risen against the trend, and gratifying achievements have been made in cooperation in various fields. The "the belt and road initiative" initiative is deeply connected with Egypt's "2030 Vision". Chinese enterprises have overcome difficulties, focused on fighting epidemics with one hand and production with the other, and made every effort to promote cooperation in various major projects. TEDA Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has become the best developed park in Egypt's Suez Canal Special Economic Zone. China has created many firsts in Egypt: China is Egypt's largest trading partner and the largest source of imports. The largest cement production line, the first optical fiber production line and the largest power transmission project have been built in Egypt. China's development is an opportunity for the world, bringing vigor and vitality to this ancient land of Egypt.

With the increasingly close cultural exchanges between China and Egypt, the two countries have carried out in-depth cooperation in the field of archaeology in recent years. In August this year, China and Egypt first joint archaeological achieved phased results. With the joint efforts of the archaeologists of both sides, the Mengtu Temple, which has a history of more than 3000 years, has been unveiled, and the scene and unearthed cultural relics have gradually appeared in front of the world. The god Montu is the god of war in ancient Egyptian religion, and its image is a eagle-headed person. The Montu Temple was built from about 1391 to 1355 BC and is part of the most prestigious Karnak Temple in Luxor.

In September 2020, China and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate Chinese into Egypt's primary and secondary education system.
In September, China and Egypt signed an agreement to incorporate Chinese teaching into the Egyptian primary and secondary education system. At present, nearly 10,000 students in Egypt are learning Chinese, and the "Chinese fever" continues to heat up. In November, the "Cloud Unveiling" ceremony of the Egyptian Luban Workshop was grandly held online. The workshop is committed to providing technical training for Egyptian youth and providing technological and intellectual support for the development of Egyptian society.
Fifth, the friendship between the Chinese and Egyptian peoples has deepened. The epidemic has not interrupted the brotherhood between the Chinese and Egyptian peoples, and many activities have moved from offline to online. Cloud classroom, cloud exhibition, cloud food, cloud performance, cloud lecture, "five clouds" competing to bloom, the two civilizations of China and Egypt blend and learn from each other, in the haze of the epidemic, blooming beautiful and gorgeous sparks.

Chinese teaching online classroom inspired a large number of Egyptian netizens to learn Chinese enthusiasm. We encourage Egyptian students who learn Chinese martial arts to continue practicing at home by publishing a video of "Martial Living Room. "Online Chinese Restaurant" Food Teaching Workshop, the first Chinese dish "Black Pepper Beef Willow" received more than 300,000 hits after it was launched. Fish steak with scallion oil, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and chicken wings with cola were also loved by Egyptian people. The transnational "cloud ensemble" jointly dedicated by Chinese and Egyptian artists once again closely connects the hearts of the people of China and Egypt. "Cloud Ensemble" has held two. In April, the Liaoning Opera House and the Cairo Opera House jointly performed the world-famous "Triumph March" to cheer for the global fight against the epidemic. In June, Chinese and Egyptian musicians once again joined hands to perform nine pieces of music through the 5G network "Cloud Live", including the Egyptian March, the Light Cavalry Overture and the Yellow River, which are familiar to the people of the two countries, to convey the confidence and strength of unity and victory over the epidemic.

Sixth, the two countries have further approached their ideas and firmly support each other in international affairs. China and Egypt have five common points: both countries firmly safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security; both adhere to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and firmly follow the development path in line with their own national conditions; both firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law; as two ancient civilizations, both firmly support and advocate exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, Harmonious coexistence; we firmly defend multilateralism, jointly defend the interests of developing countries and safeguard global fairness and justice. Since the beginning of this year, Egypt has continued to firmly support China's position on China's core interests and major concerns related to Xinjiang, Taiwan, human rights and other issues.

As of early December, the Chinese Embassy in Egypt has successfully held 16 Chinese and foreign press conferences to spread China's achievements in fighting epidemics, resuming work and poverty alleviation to Egypt and the Arab world. We have overwhelmed Western fallacies with Chinese truth, smashed rumors with facts, and created a business card of "The Voice of China" that spreads positive energy. Egypt's major mainstream media published more than 500 related reports and articles. The number of followers of the embassy's Facebook and Twitter accounts has steadily increased, and its influence has continued to expand. Fans from Egypt and Arab countries actively interacted with the embassy, saying that "China is a good friend and true friend", "China is a real big country", and "China must believe in its words and deeds, which brings hope to Egypt and Africa".

Reporter: Looking back at the 2020, what are the stories that make you unforgettable?

Liao Liqiang: The epidemic is a touchstone, testing out the true nature of China-Egypt friendship. The Chinese and Egyptian people are "Habibie", true friends and good brothers. The friendly and moving stories emerging from the epidemic have added a new footnote to the friendship between China and Egypt.

On March 1, in order to express the firm support of the Egyptian government and people for China's fight against the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, according to the instructions of Egyptian President Sisi, on the occasion of the visit of Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Dr. Halle to China, Egypt lit up the "Chinese Red" and the five-star red flag in the form of a light show at the world-famous millennium historical landmark, the three world cultural heritage sites of Cairo Salatin Castle, Luxo Karnak Temple and Aswan, Luxo and Aswan Temple.

Egypt is an ancient civilization with a history of 7000 years, and the Egyptian people are very proud of their splendid civilization. They lit the national flag of a country at the same time in the three most proud cultural monuments. This is the first time in the history of Egypt. It reflects the true feelings of the Egyptian people in firmly supporting China and sharing weal and woe with the Chinese people.

Egypt returns 31 smuggled ancient Chinese coins to China in November 2020
In November, the handover ceremony of ancient Chinese coins was held at the National Museum in Cairo, the capital. Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Cultural Relics Khalid Anani personally handed over 31 ancient Chinese coins seized in Egypt in early 2018. This batch of smuggled cultural relics includes ancient coins from the earliest to the Western Han Dynasty and many currencies from the Tang Dynasty, Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. They have a certain value, and some coins are very precious.

There are many more such stories that make people warm. What I want to say is that, whether at the national level or the non-governmental level, the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind has been truly practiced in the two ancient civilizations. Strategic mutual trust and solidarity have become the true background of China-Egypt relations.

Sino-Egyptian relations represent the height, breadth, depth and temperature of Sino-Arab and Sino-African relations. After the hardening of the epidemic, China-Egypt cooperation will be more stable and the prospects will be broader. I believe that the friendship between the Chinese and Egyptian peoples will surely surge forward like the Yangtze River and the Nile.

Reporter: I would like to ask the ambassador to introduce the work arrangements of the embassy in the new year and send New year's greetings to our compatriots.

Liao Liqiang: 2021 marks the 100 anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. China will embark on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way and make great strides towards the second centenary goal. As diplomats fighting on the front line, we will be guided by Xi Jinping's diplomatic thinking, do a good job in epidemic prevention and control and anti-epidemic diplomacy, and create a favorable external environment for the construction of a new development pattern and the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan.

Sincerely wish the great motherland prosperity and the great Chinese people happiness and well-being! Bless all my friends, Taurus and pray for a happy family!

The original title "Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang: 2020 is a new brilliant year for China and Egypt"