“In a new world that is changing rapidly with new challenges and new opportunities, we look forward to our next 50 years together with China.” --Egyptian Ambassador to China Mahmoud Allam
History was made when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao kicked off his seven-nation Africa tour in June in Cairo, attending a gala at the foot of the Pyramids of Giza to mark 50 years of China-Egypt diplomatic relations in the company of his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Nazef. This is the first time the world heritage site has ever been used for such an occasion.
Following on the heels of the two ancient civilizations consolidating their relationship, Egyptian Ambassador to China Mahmoud Allam shared his visions on bilateral ties and other international issues with Beijing Review reporter Li Li.
Beijing Review: Both the Chinese president and premier visited Africa in the first half of this year and your president will visit China later this year. How do you view the frequent exchange of top-level visits in promoting bilateral relations?
Mahmoud Allam: China has always been in Africa, working hand in hand to develop African countries after they gained independence. The recent visits of President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao show the friendship commitment of China to Africa. Premier Wen Jiabao has selected Cairo as the first leg of his seven-nation Africa tour, symbolizing that Egypt is the first African country to establish diplomatic relations with China, on May 30, 1956. I accompanied the delegation to Cairo and was there to witness the warmth of relations and the seriousness of the talks between our two countries and between China and the African continent in general. Even before the visit, the release of China’s African Policy [white paper] in January of this year again shows clear vision and strategy for developing the relations between Africa and China. Some say that China is interested in Africa just for natural resources, particularly energy, and the open market. But I believe that China’s commitment is deeper than that.
Egypt and China signed trade, business and cooperation agreements during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s tour. Could you identify sectors with the greatest growth potentials for bilateral trade and cooperation?
The two sides have signed 11 documents, 10 agreements and one guideline program about the future relationship between Egypt and China. Our two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement in 1999 and now seven years later on this 50th anniversary, the new document that was signed is a guideline on how to develop relations in the future and how to strengthen cooperation in all fields.
The contents of other agreements range from the cooperation in the oil industry and exploitation of mineral resources to the establishment of a foreign investors service center, where foreign investors going to Egypt, particularly Chinese investors, can get approval to establish their businesses. The establishment of a school by the Chinese Government in an Egyptian village and a pledge to open the Chinese market to Egyptian exports were also included. The visit provided the opportunity for an exchange of views between leaders of our two countries, as well as delegation members, on how to develop different aspects of the relationship.
Egypt welcomes Chinese investment in all sectors. We are inviting Chinese investment to come and build a base in Egypt, and then manufacture and export products from Egypt to different parts of the world, particularly the Middle East and Africa. By doing this, they can take advantage of Egypt’s geographical position, the incentives Egypt provides to foreign investment, as well as the cheap and qualified labor and low-cost services.
In this regard, there are sectors I particularly want to mention. In the textile industry, Egypt has an agreement of Qualified Industrial Zones under which any textile products from Egypt have free access to the American market. In addition, Egypt has a free trade agreement with the European Union, which gives free access to products manufactured in Egypt to the EU market. Other sectors with cooperation potential between China and Egypt include information technology, telecommunications, tourism, auto and oil industries.
China and Africa have reached consensus on holding a summit meeting and the third ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in November. Can you outline issues of particular significance that are up for discussion at the forum?
The forum was established in 2000. Since then, a lot of activities have taken place and many initiatives have been launched by China to support African countries, particularly the least developed ones, to boost cooperation between the two sides. We see this as an opportunity to consolidate these partnerships in a practical way. It’s opening the African market to China as much as opening the Chinese market to African products. It is also strengthening the Chinese investment in Africa, working together in the transfer of technology, personnel training as well as enhancing the cultural and political cooperation.
As China and Egypt have reached 50 years together, we think we have special bonds with China, as a country, people and government. In a new world that is changing rapidly with new challenges and new opportunities, we look forward to our next 50 years together with China. As Egypt is working hard to reform its economy in many ways to be part of the global economy, we have great potential. We have firm commitments from the leadership of the two countries as well as an exchange of visits and exchange of views that are always seeking new ways to enhance bilateral relations. All this makes us very optimistic about the future of relations between our two countries. I personally think as an ambassador in China, I am here at a very important time. The many opportunities and the responsibility to work continuously to reach out to all our Chinese friends not only benefit our two peoples, but also promote the peaceful development of the world in general.
What is Egypt’s stance on the July 5 test firing of missiles by North Korea?
We understand the concerns and that the last launch of long-range missiles by North Korea has had an effect on the neighboring countries. However, we would like to see all the differences settled in a peaceful means through negotiation. China has already played a positive role in hosting the six-party talks as a mechanism of arranging meetings for the concerned parties. I think it is best to continue discussion and negotiation.
We ask all participants of the six-party talks to solve the problem through negotiations and not to push things to the point of confrontation. That’s why we think the Chinese approach to this issue is wise and reasonable.
It is reported that Hamas militants snatched an Israeli soldier on June 25 and demanded an exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. As Egypt acts as a broker in the crisis, can you tell us the impact of this incident on the ongoing confrontation between the Palestinians and Israelis?
The problem in the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis is that the Palestinian people have been suffering from occupation for such a long time, to the extent that they are the only people we know about [in the world] who are still under occupation. All previous peace efforts have, to some extent, failed. Palestinian people are frustrated.
Egypt is trying to bring all the parties in the region together and has made peace mediation the strategic part of its foreign policy. But peace should be based on justice. When Palestinians, even Palestinian authorities, were trying to work out things with the Israelis, the Israelis would always attack Palestinian civilians in revenge for what they see as terrorist attacks coming from the Palestinian side. Many Palestinians see it as their right to resist the occupation. That puts the two parties in a vicious circle.
Violence cannot solve the problem. So we have to stop this circle of bloodletting and we urge both parties to go back to the negotiating table and we urge the international community to support them in reaching a final settlement. Conflicts affect not only the two parties involved, but also the region, and the world at large.