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China’s chief diplomat traveled to Cairo on Sunday for talks with officials from Egypt and the Arab League, following multiple trips to Africa aimed at consolidating Beijing’s footprint across the resource-rich continent. It was my last visit. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
He held separate talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit. At a joint press conference, Shukry said the talks dealt with relations between China and Egypt and the growing number of Chinese tourists to the Middle Eastern country, which has struggled for years to revive its vital tourism sector.
The two ministers said they also discussed regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Tensions have risen after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads Israel’s most right-wing and religiously conservative government, took office last month.
He also called for “maintaining the status quo” in Jerusalem’s most important holy site after a visit by an ultranationalist Israeli minister earlier this year. The visit was heavily condemned by the entire Islamic world and strongly condemned by the United States.
In a meeting with Sisi, China’s foreign minister said Beijing will continue to invest in Egyptian infrastructure projects, including those related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
China has invested billions in state-owned projects in Egypt, including the Suez Canal Economic Zone and a new administrative capital under construction east of Cairo. Hata arrived in Cairo on Saturday afternoon.
His week-long trip included Ethiopia, home of the African Union headquarters, as well as Gabon, Angola and Benin. It was Mr. Hata’s first overseas trip since taking office in December.
For more than 30 years, China’s foreign ministers have begun their terms by visiting Africa, a continent whose population growth rivals that of China.
Beijing has invested heavily in infrastructure in African countries, including roads, energy infrastructure, telecommunications, railways and hospitals. Chinese financial groups and funds have provided $160 billion (USD) in loans to Africa between 2000 and 2020 (according to China’s Africa lending database).
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, China raced to bring vaccines to Africa. Africa has received only her 1% of the world’s COVID-19 vaccine supply.
China also financed the construction of a new headquarters for the African Center for Disease Control in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
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