By Mohammad Sio
ISTANBUL (AA) – Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, on Wednesday on an official visit, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
“China and Egypt, as important members of the Global South, should further strengthen strategic coordination to safeguard their common interests,” Li said in post-arrival statements carried by Xinhua.
Before his visit to Cairo, Li attended the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a live-streamed news conference in Beijing that Li will pay an official two-day trip to Egypt on July 9-10 at the invitation of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
Mao said China and Egypt are comprehensive strategic partners, and the two nations enjoy “robust bilateral ties” and aim to elevate relations to “a community with a shared future.”
Egypt was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with China, the spokeswoman added.
China is one of the top commercial partners of Egypt, with bilateral trade hovering around $14 billion annually.
The two sides have also expanded defense cooperation with Chinese and Egyptian air forces, holding their first joint drill this April.