Ashraf AboArafe
Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Deputy Governor of Cairo, received a high-level delegation from China’s Shaanxi Province, led by Mr. Hao Huijie, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC in Yan’an City. The meeting focused on exploring ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, culture, education, environment, and energy.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Saber emphasized the deep historical ties between Egypt and China, two nations with ancient civilizations and rich cultural heritage. He highlighted the current close relationship between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Xi Jinping as a solid foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation. He described the visit as a new step toward deepening local-level collaboration between Cairo and Shaanxi, especially given the strategic and economic significance of both regions.
Dr. Saber noted that Cairo maintains twinning and cooperation agreements with several Chinese cities, aimed at exchanging expertise and fostering development. During the meeting, he reviewed Cairo Governorate’s achievements in sustainable development, infrastructure modernization, and the city’s role as a cultural, economic, and tourist hub.
The talks addressed potential areas for knowledge exchange, particularly in infrastructure and renewable energy. Both sides also discussed mechanisms to enhance educational and cultural exchange, and the Governor invited Shaanxi officials to organize joint events to showcase the cultural heritage of both cities.
For his part, Mr. Hao Huijie expressed his pleasure at visiting Cairo and meeting its officials, emphasizing the importance of the rapidly growing Chinese-Egyptian relations. He noted that Shaanxi Province boasts diverse cultural and tourism resources and shares Cairo’s commitment to international cooperation.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of activating the Sister City Agreement between Cairo and Shaanxi, originally signed in 2008, as a means of deepening ties between the peoples of the two cities.
