Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, delegated Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, to participate in the celebration held by the Chinese Embassy in Cairo on the occasion of the 76th National Day of China and to extend congratulations on behalf of the Egyptian government. The event was attended by Mr. Liao Liqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Cairo, Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi, Minister of Parliamentary, Legal Affairs and Political Communication, former ministers, and ambassadors from Arab and foreign countries.

In his opening speech, Dr. Amr Talaat expressed his happiness to participate on behalf of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly in celebrating the 76th anniversary of Chairman Mao Zedong’s declaration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the pride in the 11th anniversary of upgrading diplomatic relations between China and Egypt to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Dr. Talaat added that next year will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt; noting that Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. He emphasized that the relations between the two peoples have roots going back thousands of years, with both countries possessing ancient civilizations that shaped human consciousness and contributed to scientific, artistic, literary, and economic renaissance. He added that one of the greatest values upon which both civilizations were founded is the steadfast belief in the value of work and its exaltation, which remains the guiding and driving value in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Dr. Talaat confirmed that the partnership between the two countries deepened over the past decade, extending across diplomatic files, commercial contracts, and cultural goals, reflecting the alignment of visions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is evident in the ten summit meetings and international events over the past decade, including Egypt’s invitation as guest of honor at China’s Victory Day celebrations in 2015, the participation of the Egyptian Armed Forces in grand military parades in Beijing, and President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cairo in 2016. Egypt also affirmed its support for the Belt and Road Initiative, which includes cooperation in communications, information technology, human development, training, artificial intelligence, and industry, reviving the historic Silk Road.

Dr. Talaat added that cooperation between China and Egypt in the communications and IT sector has witnessed continuous momentum, including the establishment of factories for optical fiber cables and mobile phones, data centers, cloud computing launches, and building AI systems for language recognition. The partnership also includes developing digital infrastructure, implementing digital capacity-building programs nationwide, and establishing technology labs that contribute to preparing Egypt’s digital generations.

Dr. Talaat noted his multiple visits to China over recent years, highlighting that his latest visit to Beijing during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in September 2024 marked a new peak in China-Egypt cooperation in the communications and IT sector. This included signing five memoranda of understanding to establish three factories to manufacture 4 million kilometers of optical fiber cables and communication equipment. It also included a vision to deepen investments in Egypt through the creation of a $300 million technology investment fund. The partnership focused on digital capacity building and employment by establishing three Chinese companies’ centers exporting outsourcing services with 800 job opportunities in electronic circuit design, software development, R&D in fiber optic networks, green transformation technologies, and providing four centers and labs to build the capacities of more than 3,000 specialists.

Dr. Talaat explained that the partnership between China and Egypt spans broad fields across various sectors. The past decade represented a golden phase in Egypt-China relations economically, with Chinese companies engaging in major infrastructure, energy, and transport projects, including the development of electricity and water networks and establishing essential facilities in new cities. This qualitative partnership extended beyond financing or technology to include operational expertise exchange and sustainability enhancement, supporting Egypt’s transformation into a regional industrial and logistics hub based on solid international alliances. He pointed to the China-Egypt Economic Zone “TEDA” located in the Suez Canal area, which has become a global industrial platform hosting more than 185 companies with cumulative Chinese investments exceeding $3 billion, providing about 10,000 direct jobs. Recently, an agreement was made to expand the zone by adding nearly 3 square kilometers with investments of $100 million to accommodate more advanced industries in new energy and advanced materials.

The zone already includes factories producing cables, giant pipes, and home appliances, with local content exceeding 70% in some, making it a symbol of true industrial integration and a locomotive linking Egyptian production to surrounding regional markets. Cooperation also includes active participation of Chinese companies in many major national projects such as building the financial and business district in the new administrative capital, Alamein towers, and establishing the high-speed electric train.

Dr. Talaat stated that the added value of human creativity in the communications and IT industry and other advanced industries represents a pillar of development in modern industrial countries and one of the most important supports for economic and social renaissance. He confirmed that the China-Egypt partnership today is solidly built and broad in horizons.