Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang was interviewed by China Daily. In his exclusive interview, Ambassador Liao Liqiang answered reporters' questions on China-Egypt, China-Arab relations, and China-Africa relations. The main contents are as follows:
Question 1: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt. Egypt is one of the first countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative. What are the achievements of the China-Egypt Belt and Road Initiative, and what are the highlights?
Ambassador Liao: China and Egypt have a long history of friendship, and Egypt is the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and looking back on the past 10 years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, China and Egypt have jointly opened up a golden era of leapfrog development in bilateral relations. China and Egypt have continued to consolidate political mutual trust, firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, achieved fruitful practical cooperation, delivered a brilliant "report card" on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, demonstrated the responsibility of major countries in international and regional issues, jointly safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice, and the development of bilateral relations has entered the fast lane and reached the best level.
China and Egypt are good friends who share the same goals and trust each other, as well as good partners for joint development and common prosperity. Over the past 10 years, China and Egypt have carried out fruitful cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and projects benefiting both sides have been steadily implemented. The two sides have worked together to create a number of "firsts": Chinese companies have built the "tallest building in Africa" and the first electrified light rail railway in Egypt, helping Egypt become the first African country with complete satellite AIT capabilities, completing the largest power grid upgrade project in history, and having the largest glass fiber production base, the largest vaccine storage center, the fastest fixed broadband network speed, and the largest and most technologically advanced cement production cluster in Africa. The China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has attracted investment of more than 2 billion US dollars, 145 Chinese and foreign enterprises have settled in, and about 50,000 people have been employed by the industry. As the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Egypt continues to deepen, the areas of cooperation between the two sides have also been further expanded. In 2023, Egypt successfully issued Africa's first panda bond in China, the two countries signed a cooperation document on "debt-to-development", and the Egypt-2 satellite was launched in China.
China and Egypt are both representatives of major developing countries and emerging powers, and are important strategic stability factors in a world of turmoil and turmoil. In the next stage, China will take the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries this year as an opportunity to strengthen the synergy between the development strategies of the two sides, continue to strengthen communication and cooperation under the framework of BRICS and the United Nations, make good use of cooperation mechanisms at all levels and in various fields such as the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, expand cooperation in new energy, aerospace, agricultural science and technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence, medical and health care, and jointly implement the "Eight Common Actions" of China-Arab practical cooperation and the "Nine Projects" of China-Africa cooperation It will inject new vitality into the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership and better benefit the two countries and peoples.
Question 2: In addition to being China's ambassador to Egypt, you also have the capacity of Plenipotentiary to the League of Arab States. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the 10th Ministerial Conference of the Forum is scheduled to be held in China this year. What do you think is the significance of strengthening China-Arab cooperation for both China and the world under the current situation, and what are your expectations for the future prospects of China-Arab cooperation?
Ambassador Liao: The relations between China and Arab countries have a long history, and they have set an example of friendly exchanges between different ethnic groups in the long history of exchanges. Since its establishment, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has held nine ministerial conferences. Within the framework of the forum, 17 cooperation mechanisms, including ministerial meetings, senior officials' meetings, and high-level strategic and political dialogues, have been established, making important contributions to the development of China-Arab relations. At present, the world pattern is undergoing profound changes and human society is facing multiple challenges, and it is of great significance for China and Arab countries to strengthen cooperation.
First, it is conducive to promoting mutual benefit and win-win results and realizing the rejuvenation of their respective nations. In 2022, the first China-Arab States Summit was successfully held, and President Xi Jinping and Arab leaders reached important consensus, leading China-Arab relations into the best period in history. Over the past year or so, the two sides have made solid and vigorous progress in implementing the outcomes of the China-Arab States Summit. The Arab League is the first regional organization to sign a Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China, and the Belt and Road Initiative has also achieved "full coverage" in 22 Arab League countries. In the past 10 years, the two-way investment between China and the Arab States has achieved multiple-level growth. The two sides have implemented more than 200 large-scale cooperation projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the results of cooperation have benefited nearly 2 billion people on both sides, demonstrating the broad prospects for China and Arab States to promote all-round cooperation and work together to achieve national rejuvenation.
Second, it is conducive to jointly addressing regional and global challenges. At the first China-Arab States Summit, China and Arab States issued the Riyadh Declaration, agreeing to make every effort to build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era, strengthen China-Arab solidarity and cooperation, promote regional peace and development, uphold international fairness and justice, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Over the past year, China has adhered to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, political settlement, objectivity and fairness, and addressing both the symptoms and root causes of hotspot issues with Chinese characteristics, participated constructively in resolving regional and international hotspots, and successfully promoted the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. We have always upheld an objective and fair position on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, and always worked for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue. China's contribution to peace and prosperity in the Middle East is obvious to all, and has been widely praised by regional countries and the international community.
Third, it is conducive to promoting the building of a new international political and economic order. As important members of the Global South and important political forces on the international stage, China and Arab States are important political forces. Last year, a number of Arab countries, including Egypt, were invited to join the BRICS mechanism, and the BRICS mechanism achieved a historic expansion. In a broader sense, the BRICS expansion is a reflection of the collective rise of the "Global South" and the acceleration of the process of world multipolarization. The "Global South", including China and the Arab States, has become a key force in the transformation of the international order and the hope of a century-old change. China shares a common destiny with all countries in the South, including Arab countries, and is willing to work together to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly promote global governance in a more just and equitable direction.
China and Arab countries are true friends and good partners, and the world today needs China and Arab countries to further strengthen solidarity. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Over the past 20 years, the forum has made important contributions to the development of China-Arab relations and has become a "golden brand" for China-Arab collective cooperation. The 10th Ministerial Conference of the Forum is scheduled to be held in China within this year, which is the first ministerial meeting of the Forum after the first China-Arab States Summit, which is of great significance for connecting the past and the future. China will strengthen communication and coordination with the Arab side, prepare and hold the meeting, and open up new prospects and inject new impetus into China-Arab relations.
Question 3: The next session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in China this fall. At that time, Chinese and African leaders will gather in Beijing again for the first time in six years to discuss future development and cooperation plans and exchange in-depth experience in governance. Against the backdrop of the current turbulent world situation, what positive significance does China-Africa cooperation have for China, Africa and the world?
Ambassador Liao: China and African countries are brothers with a common destiny, and we have fought side by side in the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggle, helped each other on the road of development and rejuvenation, and upheld our morality in the face of changes in the international situation. Since the beginning of the new era, President Xi Jinping has put forward the concept of sincerity, sincerity, amity and sincerity towards Africa and the correct concept of justice and shared interests, leading the construction of a China-Africa community with a shared future into the "fast lane". China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and the cake of China-Africa cooperation is getting bigger and bigger, and the hearts of the Chinese and African people are getting closer and closer.
At present, China is marching towards the second centenary goal and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization. Africa is accelerating towards the vision outlined in the African Union's Agenda 2063 and making every effort to build a new Africa that is peaceful, united, prosperous and self-reliant. China and Africa need to work together to create a favorable environment for realizing their respective development visions.
First, we need to work together to promote a just and equitable international order. China is ready to work with African countries to practice an equal and orderly multipolar world, carry forward the spirit of solidarity, practice true multilateralism, take a clear stand against the legacy of colonialism and all kinds of hegemonic acts, firmly support each other in safeguarding their core interests, uphold the just propositions of developing countries, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and equitable direction.
Second, we need to work together to maintain a peaceful and secure global environment. Africa is working tirelessly towards the goal of "silencing the guns". We stand ready to work with Africa to practice the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, advocate bridging differences through dialogue and resolving disputes through cooperation, promote political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues, and safeguard world peace and stability. We need to uphold the harmonious coexistence of man and nature and safeguard the security of the global ecological environment.
Third, we need to work together to build an open and inclusive world economy. China is ready to work with African countries to practice inclusive economic globalization, adhere to the principle of tearing down walls instead of building walls, opening up instead of isolation, adhering to extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, not engaging in winner-take-all, and promoting the building of an open world economy, so that developing countries can better integrate into the international division of labor and share the fruits of economic globalization. We need to transcend the gap between civilizations through exchanges among civilizations, promote inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations, and make further contributions to the progress of mankind.
At present, the "Global South" is booming, profoundly influencing the course of world history. African countries are experiencing a new awakening, and the externally imposed model has not brought stability and prosperity, and African countries need to explore a development path suited to their own national conditions and take their future and destiny firmly in their own hands. In this new historical process, China will continue to stand firmly with its African brothers, support Africa in gaining true ideological and conceptual independence, help Africa improve its capacity for independent development, and support Africa in speeding up the process of modernization.
The next session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in China this fall. I believe that through this summit, China and Africa will carry forward traditional friendship, deepen solidarity and cooperation, open up a new realm for accelerating China-Africa common development, open a new chapter for a China-Africa community with a shared future, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.