The forum, attended by China's Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji and Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang, brought together major Egyptian and Chinese companies from the industrial, energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
El-Khatib hailed the forum as a reflection of the depth of
relations and a mutual desire to elevate the economic partnership, noting that
China has been Egypt's largest trade partner for the past decade. Bilateral
trade volume reached approximately $16 billion in 2024, with over 2,800 Chinese
companies operating in Egypt with investments exceeding $8 billion.
The Minister cited the TEDA company in the Suez Canal
Economic Zone as a successful model of partnership, along with other Chinese
firms like Haier and Midea, and China's crucial role in national projects like
the New Administrative Capital, New Alamein City, and the high-speed electric
rail project.
He stressed that the next phase requires achieving a clearer
balance in the trade balance. This will be accomplished by attracting more
Chinese investments and expanding joint production for export, thus boosting
local manufacturing and added value.
El-Khatib emphasized that Egypt's Vision 2030 aligns with
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in promoting regional integration and
industrial connectivity.
The Minister underscored Egypt's advantages as an ideal
manufacturing and export hub, citing its strategic location linking three
continents, advanced infrastructure, competitive labor, and free trade
agreements providing access to over 70 global markets.
He announced that the Ministry of Investment established a
specialized China Unit within the General Authority for Investment and Free
Zones (GAFI) to provide comprehensive support, including the ability to establish
companies using the Chinese Yuan currency.
The Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce affirmed his country's commitment to continuously developing trade relations and expanding cooperation to include high-tech products and high-value-added services.