Yearender: China-Egypt relations see strong push in 2018

Egypt has also signed a number of agreements with Chinese companies. In March 2018, the Egyptian government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China State Construction Engineering Co. on designing and constructing three closed gymnasiums in Sharm al-Sheikh, Hurghada and Luxor in preparation for hosting the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship.

In May, Egypt's New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese construction company CGCOC Group to establish the first industrial zone in the city of New Alamein.

Earlier this month, Chairman of Egypt's Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) Abdel Moneim al-Taras announced that he agreed with Chairman of China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation (CR20G) Deng Yong to establish an industrial facility to manufacture monorails and express trains.

Also in December, Commander of Egyptian Air Forces, Mohamed Abbas, signed an agreement during EDEX 2018 exhibition in Cairo to purchase drones from China's National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).

China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) started in August the main phase of the construction of a new terminal basin in Sokhna Port south of the Suez Canal northeast of Egypt, while the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) signed in September a loan agreement of 600 million dollars with China Development Bank (CDB) in the Chinese capital of Beijing.

Cooperation between Egypt and China was extended to the cultural field as the first-ever Chinese archaeological team started excavation works in the Montu Temple in Upper Egypt's Luxor. Egyptian and Chinese media officials celebrated in November the broadcast of a dubbed Arabic version of Chinese popular TV series "Ode to Joy" on Egyptian state TV channel.

Egypt's former ambassador to Beijing, Mahmoud Allam, told Xinhua that the Egypt-China relations witnessed a "strong momentum in building strategic partnership" this year.

"The exchange of visits between officials of the two countries during 2018 perpetuates the keenness of the political leadership in Egypt and China to communicate at all levels and discuss issues of common concern," he said.

The former diplomat praised highly Chinese cooperation in development projects across Egypt and the diversity of Chinese investments in the country.

"Egypt is currently witnessing an economic breakthrough, and China has great experience and resources that Cairo can benefit from," Allam said.