Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday expressed hope to Egypt’s prime minister that Beijing’s ties with Egypt could bring “greater stability” to the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Hamas casts a shadow over the region, state media reported.
Xi told Mostafa Madbouli at a meeting in Beijing, according to state broadcaster CCTV:
China is willing to enhance cooperation with Egypt… and inject more certainty and stability into the region and the world. China and Egypt are good friends who share the same goals and trust each other, and good partners who work hand-in-hand for development and common prosperity.
CCTV reported Xi as saying:
At present, the international and regional situation is undergoing profound and complex changes, and the world is experiencing rapid changes not seen for a century.
Beijing was also willing to work with Cairo to “jointly safeguard international fairness and justice as well as the common interests of developing countries”, he said.
Egypt has closed its border with the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. However, on Thursday, Cairo said it would allow “sustained” passage of humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing.
Egypt and China have strengthened co-operation in recent months and Cairo is set to become an official member of the BRICS group of emerging economies next year. Xi said Madbouly, as reported by CCTV:
China congratulates Egypt on joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism and believes that this will inject new impetus into BRICS cooperation.
Beijing has refrained from taking sides in disputes in the Middle East, portraying itself as a friend to both Israel and Palestine. Chinese President Xi Jinping has not spoken with either Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas since the crisis began on Saturday.
