Sisi receives Chinese media and praises bilateral relations

CAIRO – 29 August 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received the most influential visual, print and radio media outlets on the occasion of Sisi’s potential visit to China to attend the BRICS summit, according to the Egyptian presidency statement issued Tuesday.

During the meeting, Sisi endorsed Egyptian-Chinese relations; most notably the strategic cooperation between Cairo and Beijing, the statement read.

Sisi's visit to China comes upon an invitation by Chinese President Xi Jinping to take part in the BRICS summit.

Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Song Aiguo on Tuesday asserted his country welcomes an anticipated visit by President Sisi to China early next month.

The summit of BRICS states – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – will be held on September 3-5 in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen.

BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The five nations have a combined nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $16.6 trillion, equivalent to approximately 22% of the gross world product, and an estimated $4 trillion in combined foreign reserves.

President Sisi will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the summit on means of enhancing joint cooperation, Aiguo added.

Trade exchange between the two countries hit $10 billion last year, he said, adding that Chinese investments in Egypt reached $6.8 billion in the same period.

President Sisi reviewed efforts of cooperation and coordination among developing nations to activate their role in the world economic governance and decision-making circles.