Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia leaders head to China

China’s President Xi Jinping and his Egyptian counterpart President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met in Beijing on Wednesday, pledging to deepen cooperation in various sectors.

During the meeting, Xi emphasised the importance of expanding collaboration with Egypt in fields such as trade, investment, medicine, communication, information, and new energy. He also reaffirmed China’s commitment to ongoing investments in traditional sectors like infrastructure and industry.

Sisi responded positively to Xi’s proposals, expressing Egypt’s desire to enhance cooperation in artificial intelligence, food security, and finance. He highlighted Egypt’s priority on safeguarding its water security, a critical issue for the nation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping received President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, at the People’s Presidential Palace, and an official reception ceremony was held, where military music played the national anthem of the two countries. pic.twitter.com/yHOtCG4HIU

— State Info. Service (@SISEGY) May 29, 2024

International and regional cooperation

Xi endorsed Egypt’s potential role in international and regional affairs through multilateral platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS, both of which are significantly influenced by China. Egypt became an SCO dialogue partner in 2022 and joined BRICS earlier this year.

The bilateral discussions took place ahead of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, set to open on Thursday. Sisi, along with leaders from Bahrain, Tunisia, and the UAE, will attend the conference’s opening ceremony, where Xi will deliver the keynote address.

Read: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed lands in Beijing for state visit

Broader diplomatic engagement

The summit marks the beginning of China’s latest diplomatic engagement with the Arab world.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying confirmed the state visits of Sisi, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Tunisian President Kais Saied, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Deng Li stated that Xi would hold individual meetings with each of the visiting leaders to discuss bilateral relationships and common regional and international concerns.

The discussions are expected to address the Israel-Gaza conflict, the Palestinian issue, and a potential free trade agreement between China and Gulf states.

China-Arab States Cooperation Forum

The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, established two decades ago during a visit by then-President Hu Jintao to Cairo, serves as a mechanism for dialogue between the Asian country and the 22 members of the League of Arab States.

The forum facilitates biennial meetings of foreign ministers to discuss political, economic, and security cooperation. In recent years, the focus has expanded to include energy, technology, and public health.

The attendance of four Arab leaders at the forum underscores the deepening and growing ties between China and the Arab world, highlighting China’s strategic move to fortify relationships with Middle Eastern nations.

This renewed diplomatic push by China aims to solidify its presence and partnerships in the region, enhancing its geopolitical influence while addressing mutual economic and strategic interests.