Sino-Egyptian relations

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's current visit to China, which started on Tuesday, will have a far-reaching influence on Sino-Egyptian ties. The two countries now have an opportunity to carry forward their long-standing friendship and cooperate on a broad range of endeavors, including economic development and trade.

The visit, conducted only two months into Morsi's presidency and marking his first official trip outside the Arab world, shows the importance the new Egyptian leader places on Sino-Egyptian ties.

Morsi won Egypt's first-ever democratic election in June and his country, a long-time bellwether in the Arab world, has just undergone a great political transformation.

Now, the most pressing task for Morsi and his government is to revive the country's economy. That explains why a group of Egyptian business tycoons has accompanied Morsi to China.

At a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Morsi late on Tuesday, both countries signed a series of agreements pertaining to their economies, technology, tourism and the environment.

Despite the social turmoil last year, Egypt and China have managed to sustain their economic cooperation. The value of trade between the two increased to $8.8 billion in 2011, up nearly 30 percent year-on-year. The Chinese government has also extended a helping hand to Egypt's economy by offering assistance and encouraging investment. In 2011, the value of China's investment into the Arab country increased to $80 million, up 60 percent year-on-year.

Just as Hu pointed out during his meeting with Morsi, the two countries have great opportunities to deepen their cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and finance.

And Morsi's visit also gives China a better opportunity to work through the United Nations and other international organizations to ensure it can cooperate more with the entire Arab world and African continent.

As for China and Egypt, both will doubtlessly find themselves working together as trusted partners on issues of international importance, especially on the current fighting in Syria, which is becoming worse every day. By taking similar positions on Syria, the two governments could play an even more constructive role in bringing peace to that conflict-riddled Middle East country.

Morsi's visit, we believe, will prove fruitful and open a new chapter in the two countries' relationship.

(China Daily 08/29/2012 page8)