Joining Hands to Promote Modernization and Promote Common Prosperity (International Forum)

Both Africa and China have embarked on a distinctive path of win-win cooperation on the road of development and revitalization, and Africa China cooperation has become a model of South South cooperation

The Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2024 was held earlier this month. African and Chinese leaders gather in Beijing again after six years to promote traditional friendship, deepen unity and cooperation, and jointly write a new chapter in building a high-level African Chinese community with a shared future.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations with African countries in 1956, China has always supported the development of the African continent. Both Africa and China have embarked on a distinctive path of win-win cooperation on the road of development and revitalization, and Africa China cooperation has become a model of South South cooperation. Since its establishment in 2000, the Forum on China Africa Cooperation has become an important platform for practical cooperation between the two sides. Both Africa and China adhere to extensive consultation, joint construction, and shared achievements, effectively promoting common development and prosperity. The theme of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2024 is "Hand in hand to promote modernization and jointly build a high-level China Africa community of common destiny", which reflects the common expectations of Africa and China for modernization.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China, and is also the "Egypt China Partnership Year". The two countries will hold a series of exchange and cooperation activities in politics, economy and trade, investment, culture, tourism and other fields. In May of this year, Egyptian President Sisi paid a state visit to China. The two heads of state held talks on bilateral relations, deepening cooperation in various fields, and strengthening coordination within a multilateral framework, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. The two heads of state expressed appreciation for the signing of the Outline for the Implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the the Arab Republic of Egypt (2024-2028) in January this year. This outline is based on the practical achievements made in the development of bilateral relations in recent years, and is a roadmap for developing bilateral relations and elevating them to a higher level. Both Egypt and China also agreed to prioritize promoting industrial localization and technology transfer as the direction of cooperation between the two countries in the coming years.

In recent years, Egypt and China have jointly promoted the deep connection between the "the Belt and Road" initiative and Egypt's "2030 Vision for Sustainable Development", and promoted the continuous deepening of bilateral cooperation. The two countries have carried out a series of fruitful cooperation, such as the construction of the electrified railway in the city on the 10th day of Ramadan, investment in the China Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, and the launch of the Egypt-2 satellite. Egypt has joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and successfully held its 2023 annual meeting.

On many major international issues, Egypt and China understand and support each other. The Egyptian side appreciates the global development initiative proposed by China and believes that it is a global initiative that will help accelerate the advancement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Egyptian side will continue to actively participate in cooperation in various fields under the framework of this initiative. The Egyptian side appreciates China's global security initiative and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China around maintaining world peace and security. The Egyptian side appreciates the global civilization initiative proposed by China and, like China, believes that different civilizations should be respected and cultural exchanges and mutual learning should be strengthened.

At the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2024, African and Chinese leaders reaffirmed the firm commitment of both sides to friendly cooperation, and the overall positioning of Africa China relations was upgraded to an all-weather Africa China community of shared future in the new era. Africa and China support each other in defending common principles and interests, and work together to promote modernization, which will promote mutual prosperity and make greater contributions to world peace and development.

(The author is a professor of political science at Beni Suef University in Egypt)