by Islam Afifi Ahmed Mohamed Ban
Chairman of the Board of Akhbar Elyom Publishing House, Egypt
Every time leaders Xi and Sisi meet, they prove to the world that Egyptian-Chinese relations are a global model of understanding, exchange of learning, and support to be emulated.
In short, in the eighth visit of Sisi to China, and the eleventh meeting between Xi and Sisi, agreements were achieved that serve the interests of the two countries, and fulfilled the aspirations and vision of the peoples of the two friendly countries, because they produce cooperation that seeks to contribute to building a community with a shared future towards the new era, and this is a global Chinese proposal for the benefit of the world, Egypt is well aware of it and is helping to achieve it. This is a visit that contributes to raising the level of bilateral relations between Egypt and China, and strengthening the comprehensive partnership in the new era.
We are facing a successful model of relations led by two leaders who realize the interests of their people in the midst of unprecedented global changes. In this cooperation, Egypt represents its regional and ideological surroundings: the Middle East, Africa, and the Islamic world. Therefore, it is a model by which the successes of bilateral relations between the countries of the world can be emulated and measured.
In which China represents a global vision and proposal that aims for a common, just, safe, and civilized destiny for humanity, a world in which China calls for initiatives aimed at peace and security, for multipolarity, for respecting the rights of peoples, in a new era that needs China’s presence, and China needs its stability and the achievement of comprehensive cooperation in a new era that we wait to enjoy,with a common destiny that is secure for all of us.
The Belt and Road Initiative is the initiative proposed by the Chinese President in 2013 to strengthen economic and cultural relations with all countries of the world, especially countries of the Global South, as an escape from Western models that have exhausted their wealth and undermined their stability by igniting civil wars within them.
China has always closely linked its destiny with the fate of the people of all countries, and strives to provide new opportunities for global development with its new achievements in Chinese-style modernization, provide new assistance to humanity’s exploration of the path of modernization, and make contributions to theoretical and practical innovations in the modernization of human society.
Despite the major changes taking place in the world that we have not seen in a century, China has insisted on using the Belt and Road Initiative as a practical platform for building a community with a shared future for humanity and complying with the requirements of the times and the desire of all countries to accelerate development.
I visited China twice twenty years ago and saw up close what Chinese society is like. I followed the daily movement of people, a society without crowds due to order and discipline, contrary to the mental image and common impressions that a country with a population exceeding a billion people, how does it live? There is definitely crowding and crowding in the streets and squares
The second observation was my constant question to everyone I met in Beijing and Shanghai: How do you manage the affairs of this country with one political vision and one party and achieve major economic successes and leaps? How is this done? Because it is indeed a different vision from the Western style of development based on political pluralism and the open market, and here it came to my mind. At that time, the question is: How can the countries of the South benefit from this experience, which is largely compatible with their situation, environment, and political and economic structure?
I also saw how this country was preparing to organize the Olympics and how streets in entire neighborhoods were being demolished to reorganize the city to receive the global sporting event.
During my trip, I noticed the diversity of resources and the desire to create a different experience, economically and socially, an experience that is a gift to vulnerable peoples and emerging economies.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.