China’s top diplomat to Egypt completes the Africa tour

CAIRO (AP) — China’s chief diplomat was in Cairo Sunday for talks with Egyptian and Arab League officials, marking his last stop in a multi-leg trip to Africa It aims consolidate Beijing’s presence across the resource-rich continent.

Qin Gang, the foreign minister, met separately with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi as well as Secretary-General of Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit. He also met with Sameh Shoukry, his Egyptian counterpart.

Shoukry, the Foreign Minister, stated that the talks focused on Sino-Egyptian relations as well as increasing Chinese tourism to the Middle East country. This is something the Middle Eastern country has struggled with for many years. revive its vital tourism sector.

Both ministers stated that they discussed regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian war. Tensions have risen after the return to office last month of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is heading Israel’s most right-wing and religiously conservative government.

Responding to a Chinese reporter’s question, Qin urged Israel to “stop incitements and provocations, and to refrain from taking uniliteral actions that could worsen the situation.”

He also called for “maintaining the status quo” at Jerusalem’s most important holy site, after an ultranationalist Israeli Cabinet minister visited it It was earlier in the year. This visit was met with strong protests from all parts of the Muslim world, as well as a sharp rebuke by the United States.

In his meeting with el-Sissi, the Chinese foreign minister said Beijing would continue to develop its investment in Egypt’s infrastructure projects including those with links to China’s Belt and Road initiative.

China has spent billions of dollars on Egyptian state-led projects like the Suez Canal Economic Zone or the new administrative capital which are being built east from Cairo.

Qin arrived Saturday afternoon in Cairo. The week-long trip also included Ethiopia, where is the African Union Headquarters, Gabon, Angola, and Benin. This was Qin’s first trip overseas since December, when he was appointed.

A month later, he went on his Africa tour. President Joe Biden hosted dozens of African leaders in Washington, offering government funding and private investment to aid the continent in its development in the areas health, infrastructure and business.

For more than three decades, China’s foreign ministers have started their terms by visiting Africa, whose growing population as a continent rivals China’s. Beijing has made significant investments in infrastructure in Africa, including roads and energy infrastructure.

According to the Chinese Loans to Africa Database, $160 billion was also loaned to Africa by Chinese financial institutions and funds between 2000 and 2020.

China, which was only receiving 1% global COVID-19 vaccine supplies, raced to supply vaccines to Africa. China also funded the construction of a new headquarters for the African Center for Disease Control in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.