Chinese, Egyptian FMs meet on ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmy, who is here for the sixth ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

Congratulating Egypt on its smooth presidential election, Wang said the election was an important and positive step in Egypt's political transition process.

He said he hopes Egypt can resume stability and development as early as possible and continue to play a role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

Wang said China, under the framework of "One Belt and One Road," will encourage Chinese companies to participate in construction of Egypt's Suez Canal economic corridor as well as cooperate in areas including high speed railways and new energy.

Their cooperation under the framework will also support Egypt's political transition, the foreign minister noted.

"One Belt and One Road" refers to the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road," concepts put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visits to Central Asia and Southeast Asia in 2013 to promote cooperation among countries.

In his address to the opening ceremony of the ministerial meeting, Xi elaborated on joint efforts by China and Arab states in building the "One Belt and One Road."

Fahmy thanked China for its support. He echoed Wang in saying the priority cooperation areas under Xi's "One Belt and One Road" proposal, including infrastructure, aerospace and satellites, and new energy, conform to Egypt's development plan.

Egypt is ready to work with China to take the proposal as an opportunity to deepen their cooperation in all areas, he said.

The two sides also discussed Palestine and Syria.