XI lauds Cairo’s role, efforts to reach calm,ensure delivery of desperately-needed humanitarian aid
Two-state solution fundamental guarantor to achieve stability, peace, security in region.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held in-depth talks in the Chinese Capital, Beijing, on Wednesday as part of President Sisi’s five-day visit to China.
The two leaders discussed means to strengthen bilateral relations and signed a package of agreements including the joint development plan for the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ahmed Fahmy, said China’s President Xi Jinping received President El Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where an official reception ceremony was held. The national anthems of the two countries were played and the two presidents inspected the Guard of Honor.
The official reception ceremony was followed by an extensive session of talks between the two presidents, focusing on ways to enhance bilateral relations.
The meeting coincided with the 10th anniversary of the elevation of Egypt-China relations to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Within this context, a joint statement was issued, outlining the areas of cooperation and coordination between the two countries in the coming period. Those include the declaration of the “Year of the Egyptian-Chinese Partnership”, which will feature a variety of diplomatic, economic and cultural activities.
President Sisi and President Xi exchanged views on regional and international developments.
President Sisi reiterated the urgent and imperative need to end the war in Gaza, underscoring the gravity of the Israeli military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah and their severe humanitarian, security and political consequences.
The President noted that the Israeli war has caused a heinous humanitarian catastrophe and the killing of innocent civilians, most recently the deliberate bombing of a camp of displaced people resulting in scenes of unspeakable horror.
In this regard, China’s president lauded Egypt’s pivotal role and unyielding efforts to reach calm and ensure the delivery of desperately-needed humanitarian aid. The two presidents were in accord with regard to the crucial importance of reaching an urgent and immediate ceasefire and rejecting any forced displacement of the Palestinians outside their land.
They affirmed that the implementation of the two-state solution is the fundamental guarantor to restore stability and establish peace and security in the region.
President Sisi and President Xi also discussed the situation in the African continent. They also discussed ways to forge closer cooperation between the two countries, including supporting the continent’s development efforts. President El Sisi was keen on affirming that the utmost priority is placed on safeguarding Egypt’s water security.
The two presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of a number of cooperation agreements, including the joint development plan of the “Belt and Road” Initiative and strengthening cooperation in the fields of technological innovation and IT as well as a multitude of other areas of co-operation.
In a joint statement issued following the talks, the two presidents agreed on the importance of adhering to the principles of the United Nations Charter as well as rejecting double standards and unilateral practices.
They also agreed on the importance of working to reform international institutions to be more representative of developing countries and more effective in responding to the challenges facing the world.
