Cairo – Ashraf AboArafe
CAIRO — In a landmark reception held in the Egyptian capital, H.E. Ambassador Liao Liqiang delivered a keynote address commemorating the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) alongside the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt.
The high-level gathering was attended by prominent Egyptian defense leadership, including Major General Mohamed Abou El-Fotouh Jaballah, Deputy Director of the Egyptian Military Academy (representing the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense, and Military Production), and Major General Tawfik Mokhtar Tawfik, Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces for Information Systems (representing the Chief of Staff).
Core Highlights of the Address
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A Century of Military Transformation
Ambassador Liao outlined the PLA’s historical journey under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Citing President Xi Jinping’s core imperative that “a strong nation requires a strong military,” the Ambassador reaffirmed China’s commitment to accelerating its development into a world-class defense force while maintaining an exclusively defensive national strategy.
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Seven Decades of Exemplary Ties
Marking 70 years since Egypt became the first Arab and African nation to establish diplomatic relations with New China, Ambassador Liao recalled the exchange of congratulations between President Xi Jinping and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on May 30. He praised China-Egypt relations as a premier model for South-South collaboration, Arab-Chinese cooperation, and Sino-African solidarity.
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A Pillar for Regional Stability
Emphasizing that defense cooperation serves as the bedrock of the China-Egypt Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Ambassador highlighted both militaries’ shared commitment to protecting state sovereignty, pursuing independent defense policies, rejecting external interference, and acting as a vital ballast for regional peace.
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Civilizational Harmony & Shared Future
Bridging two ancient civilizations through classical proverbs, Ambassador Liao cited the Arabic adage, “When hands join together, all tasks become light,” alongside the Chinese saying, “True understanding dissolves distance, turning distant souls into neighbors.” He concluded with a pledge to advance bilateral defense ties to broader horizons on a new starting line toward a shared future.
Speech Excerpt
“When the Great Way prevails, the world is shared by all. China’s defense development aims not only to safeguard its own people, but to protect the shared future of humanity… The Party leads the journey of building a strong military, the strong military safeguards world peace, and our efforts embody China’s responsibility as a major country in building a community with a shared future for mankind.”
— H.E. Ambassador Liao Liqiang
