1st LD: China eyes deeper Belt and Road cooperation with Egypt -- premier

CAIRO, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Thursday that China is willing to strengthen Belt and Road cooperation with Egypt in such areas as economy, trade, finance, manufacturing, new energy, science and technology, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

During his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Li also said that China is willing to encourage more capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Egypt.

Li conveyed to Sisi cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that China-Egypt relations have flourished in recent years under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state.

The Chinese side, Li said, is ready to work with Egypt to take the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries next year as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, and continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests.

China is also willing to join Egypt to continue to enrich the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, push for more achievements in cooperation in various fields between the two nations, and keep moving forward to the goal of building a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era.

The international landscape is marked by mounting turbulence and escalating disorder, with prolonged and unresolved conflicts particularly afflicting the West Asian and North African regions, Li said.

China stands ready to maintain close communication with Egypt and promote an early ceasefire in Gaza, Li said.

The Chinese side is also ready to join Egypt in alleviating the humanitarian crisis, preventing the spillover and escalation of the conflict, and making unremitting efforts for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, said the Chinese premier.

He said China is willing to work with Egypt to enhance communication and coordination within multilateral platforms including the United Nations, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and practice true multilateralism.

Li added that China will work with Egypt to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and push for the steady and long-term development of China-Arab and China-Africa cooperation. Enditem