Changsha, Egypt to strengthen economic and trade cooperation

On April 23 and 24, Tan Yong, deputy secretary of the CPC Changsha Municipal Committee, secretary of the CPC Working Committee of the Hunan Xiangjiang New Area (Changsha High-tech Zone), and secretary of the CPC Yuelu District Committee, led a delegation to visit Egypt and met with representatives of various circles in Egypt. He noted that the Hunan Xiangjiang New Area should strengthen economic and trade cooperation and exchanges with Egypt, contributing more to China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

During his visit to Egypt, Deputy Secretary Tan Yong met with General Sherif Salah El-Din, chairman of the National Authority for Management and Investment; Wang Ge, president of the Egyptian-Chinese Entrepreneurs Association; and, Egypt's Minister of Shipbuilding, also member of the Board of Directors of the Suez Canal Authority. He also had cordial exchanges with Egyptian entrepreneurs from the cultural, tourism, medical, and industrial sectors.

In-depth implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative has deepened exchanges and cooperation between China and Egypt. The China Construction 5th Engineering Bureau Ltd. and CRRC Group engaged in the construction of Africa's highest African tower and Egypt's first electrified railway, which are part of Egypt's new administrative capital central business district (CBD) project. Accompanying entrepreneur representatives from Xiangjiang New Area also had in-depth discussions with representatives from all walks of life in Egypt, focusing on the development of electronic information, medical health, cultural tourism and other industries. They all said that Egypt enjoys a good momentum of development and great potential in the future, and there is a broad space for bilateral cooperation.

Deputy Secretary Tan Yong introduced the situation of Xiangjiang New Area. He pointed out that China and Egypt are among the four ancient civilizations and both enjoy long-standing and splendid culture. Increasingly close exchanges between the two sides have laid a solid foundation for companies' "bringing in and going out". Xiangjiang New Area is China's 12th national-level new area, with combined strengths of strategies and policies. In particular, Changsha is the location of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, and Xiangjiang New Area has undertaken the China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum and other activities, making it an important window for China's exchanges with Africa. All parties from Egypt are welcome to visit Changsha and Xiangjiang New Area for exchanges and cooperation.

During the visit, Hunan Xiangjiang New Area signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Egyptian-Chinese Entrepreneurs Association. The two sides will further strengthen exchanges, facilitate commercial cooperation between enterprises from the new area and Egypt, encourage these enterprises to carry out economic and trade exchanges and exchange visits by groups, and support the association in establishing a representative office in the new area. These efforts will bolster win-win cooperation between the two sides.