Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi participated on Friday via videoconference in a high-level dialogue session on global development organized by the international “BRICS+ platform.
The session was presided over by Chinese President, Xi Jinping, the current chair of the BRICS grouping, and saw participation from several heads of state and governments.
The president said the status of the BRICS grouping has been growing steadily, thanks to the size of the economies of its member states.
These economies, he said, represent over 20% of the global gross domestic product.
The grouping, he added, also has a heavy weight in in international forums, both at the political and economic levels.
“It plays a prominent role in promoting South-to-south co-operation,” the Egyptian leader said of BRICS grouping.
This was President Sisi’s second participation in the BRICS summit.
He participated in the summit for the first time in 2017 in China.
The BRICS grouping is one of the most important economic gatherings in the world, Presidency Spokesman, Ambassador BassamRadi, said.
He added that President Sisi’s participation in the high-level dialogue session of this year’s summit highlights Egypt’s position and pioneering political, economic and commercial capabilities at the regional level.
These capabilities qualify Egypt to strengthen its relations with this important development forum, Ambassador Radi said.
He added that the invitation extended to President Sisi to participate in the summit also reflects the strength of ties between Egypt and China, which are based on a comprehensive strategic partnership in various fields, as well as close relations between the Egyptian leader and his Chinese counterpart.
President Sisi told the gathering that Egypt appreciates the global development initiative put forward by China to refocuson development issues through the revitalization of international development co-operation.
“I also like to express Egypt’s appreciation to join the New Development Bank in December 2021,” the Egyptian leader said.
As a development, he added, this can contribute, through the financial instruments it provides, to increasing interaction between BRICS states and other developing countries that are not members of the grouping.
The president noted that Egypt’s accession into the bank’s membership at this time is evidence of the strength and resilience of the Egyptian economy and its ability to withstand shocks and overcome challenges.
“We look forward to the bank’s support for Egyptian efforts in achieving sustainable development, attracting foreign investments, and enhancing the role of the private sector,” President Sisi said.
He noted that Egypt works to localize industries and maximize exports.
It increased, he said, allocations for social protection and pension funds, while continuing to implement initiatives aimed at completing the achievement of comprehensive and sustainable development goals.
The president referred to the Decent Life and the 100 Million Healthy Lives initiatives as examples of efforts made by the Egyptian state in this regard.
He said Egypt is relentlessly seeking to become a center for renewable energy by diversifying its production sources and expanding the production of green hydrogen, solar energy and wind power.
