Egypt’s Sisi: Arab water security represents a pressing concern that could escalate into an existential threat

CAIRO – 30 May 2024: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi called for elevating the issue of Arab water security to the forefront of future cooperation within the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

In his speech at the 10th China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing on Thursday, President Sisi added that issue of Arab water security represents a pressing concern that could escalate into an existential threat.

He added that for the past decade, Egypt has consistently urged the Ethiopian government to engage in sincere dialogue with Egypt and Sudan to achieve a legally-binding agreement that ensures the right to life and development for both current and future generations of the three nations.

The Egyptian President continued that it is crucial to emphasize that Egypt will not tolerate anything that “compromises or undermines the security and stability of our countries and our people."

President Sisi also called upon all active members of the international community to fulfill their moral and legal obligations to halt the unjust Israeli conflict. “I urge the international community to take immediate and decisive action to enforce the instantaneous and unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to the Gaza Strip to break the Israeli siege and counter any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinians from their lands,” said President Sisi.

Sisi continued that the only path conducive to achieving regional and international peace and stability is the two-state solution and the acknowledgment of the Palestinians’ legitimate right to establish their independent state.

Here is the full text of President Sisi’s speech

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”

Your Excellency, President Xi Jinping,

President of the People's Republic of China

Your Majesties, Highnesses and Excellencies

Mr. Ahmed Abul Gheit,

Secretary-General of the League of Arab States

Honorable attendees,

At the outset, I extend my sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, for his kind invitation. I would also like to express gratitude to the Chinese side and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States for the efforts exerted in the preparations of this valued forum.

I would like to particularly laud the Egyptian-Chinese relations, pointing out that a decade has passed since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership relations between the two nations. This strong partnership has led to remarkable progress in the two countries’ ties, which testifies to our unyielding commitment to fostering stronger bilateral relations and to aligning “Egypt Vision 2023 for Comprehensive Development” with the priorities of the “Belt and Road” Initiative.

Honorable attendees,

Arab-China political relations are rooted in a solid foundation of shared values, primarily a mutual commitment to adamantly safeguarding the security, stability and interests of the peoples’ and firmly rejecting aggression that undermines sovereignty. These relations, as well as the close Arab-China cooperation to uphold these principles, have served as a fulcrum for international stability and for efforts to uphold justice in the International Order.

In this regard, I want to particularly highlight the profound Arab appreciation of China’s approach and policies on the Palestinian issue as well as Beijing’s persistent support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the Palestinians’ legitimate right to establish their independent state.

I call on all active actors of the international community to assume their moral and legal responsibilities to stop the outrageous Israeli war. I further urge the international community to take immediate and decisive action to enforce the instantaneous and unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to the Gaza Strip to break the Israeli siege and counter any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinians from their lands.  

And again, I reaffirm that the only path conducive to achieving regional and international peace and stability is through a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of the Palestinian issue. This requires prompt and earnest commitment to the two-state solution and the acknowledgement of the Palestinians’ legitimate right to establish their independent state.

Honorable attendees,

The periodic and regular convening of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum demonstrably manifests a reciprocal commitment to invigorating the institutional relations between Arab States and China, as this forum embraces a multitude of key political and economic objectives. Those include promoting South-South cooperation and establishing a more just international order, while fostering joint technical cooperation in the face of challenges associated with global economic governance, facilitating technology transfer and localization, combating climate change and ensuring water security. These are among a broad range of challenges and threats that underscore the critical need for friends in the international community to leverage their collective capacities for closer collaboration.

Again, let me reiterate the vital need to place the issue of Arab water security as a top priority for future cooperation within the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, as it represents a pressing issue that could spiral into an existential threat.

In this regard, I would like to point out that over the past ten years we have called on the Ethiopian government to engage in good faith with Egypt and Sudan to reach a legally-binding agreement that shall safeguard the right to life and development for the present and future generations of the three countries, taking into consideration that we will not tolerate anything that would compromise or undermine the security and stability of our countries and our peoples.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The outstanding China-Arab States relations and the immense potential for promoting them, coupled with our collective capabilities and unwavering commitment to further strengthening these relations, reinforce my confidence that this forum will generate significant positive momentum and deliver tangible achievements in every domain of our partnership.

Thank you

May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.