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 China’s 76th National Day and to extend congratulations on behalf of the Egyptian government. The event was attended by Liao Liqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Cairo, Counselor Mahmoud Fawzy, Minister of Parliamentary, Legal Affairs and Political Communication, former ministers, and ambassadors from Arab and foreign countries.

In his opening speech during the celebration, Dr. Amr Talaat expressed his happiness to participate on behalf of Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouly to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China by leader Mao Zedong, and to commemorate the 11th anniversary of upgrading diplomatic relations between China and Egypt to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership.

Dr. Talaat added that next year will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt; noting that Egypt is 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, and that both countries have 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 the civilizations of both countries were founded is the peoples’ firm belief in the value of work and its elevation, which remains the governing value and main driver 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, reflected in the alignment of visions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is evident in the number of summit meetings and participation in international events, totaling 10 meetings over the last decade, including Egypt’s invitation as guest of honor at China’s Victory Day celebrations in 2015, participation of the Egyptian Armed Forces in grand military parades in Beijing, as well as President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cairo in 2016 and Egypt’s support for the Belt and Road Initiative, which included cooperation in communications, IT, 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 to prepare Egypt’s digital generations.

Dr. Talaat referred to his multiple visits to China over recent years, noting that his latest visit to Beijing during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in September 2024 marked a new peak in Sino-Egyptian cooperation in communications and IT. This was demonstrated by signing 5 memoranda of understanding to establish 3 factories producing 4 million kilometers of optical fiber cables and communication equipment. The vision also included deepening investments in Egypt by creating a $300 million technology investment fund. The partnership focused on digital capacity building and employment by establishing 3 Chinese companies’ outsourcing service centers providing 800 jobs in electronic circuit design, software development, R&D in fiber optic networks, green technology transformation, and providing 4 centers and labs to build the capacities of more than 3,000 specialists.

Dr. Talaat explained that the partnership between China and Egypt extends to broad fields across various sectors. The past decade was a golden era in Egypt-China relations economically, with Chinese companies engaging in major infrastructure, energy, and transport projects, including developing electricity and water networks and establishing essential facilities in new cities. He added that this qualitative partnership was not limited to financing or technology but extended to exchanging operational expertise and enhancing sustainability, 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 nearly 10,000 direct jobs. Recently, an agreement was made to expand the zone by adding about 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 the zone 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 major national projects such as building the financial 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 pillars of economic and social renaissance. He confirmed that the China-Egypt partnership today is solidly built, broad in scope, and deeply impactful, with the will of both peoples to enrich its axes and deepen its returns in preparation for celebrating decades of strategic partnership between the two countries.