Dialogue with China's Former Egyptian and Saudi Arabian Ambassador Wu Sike

Column:HEADLINE Time:2023-09-10

 The 2nd "One Belt One Road" International Cooperation Summit will be held in Beijing from April 25th to 27th. The Summit Forum is the highest-standard international cooperation platform under the “One Belt One Road” framework. This meeting is China's most important home diplomacy this year, and it is also a landmark international event.

Starting from April 19th, every night from 7pm to 8pm, you will bring you the second "One Belt, One Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum, special live broadcast "High-end Visit of the One Belt One Road", today launched the fourth issue: Dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Member of the Foreign Policy Advisory Committee, former Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Wu Sike.

According to China Voice "News", as an important link connecting the world's major ancient civilizations, the "Silk Road" has become a bridge of friendship between China and Egypt since ancient times. . As the meeting point of the “Onshore Silk Road” and the “Maritime Silk Road”, Egypt has a natural strategic importance and is the first country to support the “One Belt One Road” initiative.

China’s former ambassador to Egypt, Wu Sike, believes that China and Egypt not only have historical origins, but also emotionally intertwined. Egypt is a natural partner of China’s “One Belt One Road” initiative. Wu Sike said: "From a geographical perspective, 'One Belt One Road' sees it as a land-to-sea interchange at the western part of Asia, and it is a natural partner. It is a good partner. The humanistic and political relationship has a unique regional position. In addition, in the current era, the One Belt and One Road' proposal is also very suitable for the development stage of Egypt. These years in Egypt, in many countries in Africa, are exploring The so-called 'look eastward', they can fully draw on China's development experience."

"The ambition is not to take the mountains and the sea as far away." According to Wu Sike, China and Egypt have a long history of friendly exchanges. The two sides should further enhance bilateral cooperation based on the development needs of the two countries. Wu Sike said: "The relationship between China and Egypt has been good and the foundation of cooperation is also very strong, because Egypt, as the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with China, was also the first Arab to establish a strategic cooperative relationship with China in 1999. African countries. The comprehensive strategic cooperation relationship announced by the two heads of state is also among the earliest in Africa and the Arab countries. The basis for cooperation in economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries is also very solid. Under this foundation, in the new era, how? Being able to adapt to the strategic needs of both parties and enhance the relationship between the two sides is a new and common task we face."

In 2015, the Egyptian government proposed the Suez Canal Corridor Development Plan, which plans to build the Suez Canal Corridor Economic Belt along the Suez Canal, including the construction of roads, airports, ports and other infrastructure. Since the “One Belt One Road Initiative” initiative, it has been in line with Egypt’s “Suez Canal Corridor Development Plan” and continues to develop the China-Ethios Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone to encourage and support willing Chinese companies to invest in the region or other parts of Egypt. In this regard, Wu Sike said: "The park construction is a very important platform in the construction of the "One Belt One Road". Now, 82 economic parks have been built outside the country. The Suez Canal Bay Park has a demonstration role as a whole. So One Belt One Road 'We often talk about it a bit, like this park is a point, one point and one point are connected together, which plays a very important role in China Unicom. Because there are large, high-tech enterprises, Through these efforts to promote the cooperation between the two sides to a high level, this is what they are seeking now, and also in the 'One Belt One Road' construction, and we (required) to improve the quality of the road."

In response to the development of Egypt's tourism industry, the Egyptian government opened the Sphinx International Airport in January this year. The airport is about 12 kilometers away from the Giza Pyramid. By opening the new airport, the Egyptian government is also expecting more and more in the future. Chinese tourists visited Egypt. In this regard, Wu Sike said that Egypt, the golden country on the Nile River, not only attracts Chinese tourists by its own charm, but also integrates Chinese culture into daily life.

Wu Sike said: "The exchange between China and Egypt is indeed a very important aspect. China has more tourists to Egypt, and it has reached 500,000 last year. Egypt has its own unique historical and cultural relics. The things left by the ancient civilizations of the four great civilizations. In addition, people are also very friendly. They are very popular wherever they go. You can say hello 'hello' wherever you go. From the perspective of cultural exchange, Egypt began in 1958. I started teaching Chinese classes at the university, so Egypt is representative of Chinese culture."