Cairo: Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi arrived on Monday in Beijing, starting a key visit aimed at securing China’s assistance in easing the Egyptian economic doldrums and achieving balance in Cairo’s ties with the West, according to observers.
The four-day visit is the first to China by Al Sissi since he took office in June amid frequent Western criticisms to his administration about alleged human rights abuses and a crackdown on Islamist and secular dissidents.
Last year, Al Sissi, the then army chief, led the army’s removal of Islamist president Mohammad Mursi following enormous street protests against his one-year rule.
Al Sissi, who swept presidential elections in May, has pledged to revitalise the Egyptian economy hammered by four years of the unrest that followed the ouster of Mursi’s predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, in a popular uprising.
“China is of particular importance for Egypt, mainly at the economic level,” said presidential spokesman Alaa Yousuf in press remarks. “China is Egypt’s second biggest [trade] partner with their trade exchange reaching $10.3 billion (Dh37.8 billion) in 2013,” he added.
China’s exports to Egypt were worth $8.4 billion, according to the official.
“The visit aims at achieving the biggest possible measure of balance in trade links between the two countries to be on a par with their distinguished political ties,” Yusuf said.
Al Sissi is due on Tuesday to launch with Chinese President Xi Jinping what Egyptian media described as a comprehensive strategic partnership.
A related document will emphasise cooperation in fields of politics, economy, military and security links and culture, the semi-official newspaper Al Ahram reported.
Egypt is hosting in March a major international conference aimed at encouraging participants to pump fresh investments into its economy.
To some analysts, Al Sissi’s China trip is part of his efforts to expand Egypt’s foreign relations to go beyond its traditional links with the West. In August, he visited Russia. His Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is expected in Cairo early next year.
“Egypt undoubtedly realises the importance of the ‘Look East’ policy in which China commands a pivotal position,” said Huda Metkees, a political science professor at Cairo University.
“This Eastward shift marks an attempt by Egypt to balance its Western relations, which have often experienced pressure and fluctuations.”
According to Metkees, unlike the West, which has a colonial past, China is well perceived in the Arab world, including Egypt.
“China is one of few countries, which harbour no ambitions of hegemony and do not meddle in other states’ internal affairs. Accordingly, China can be the most suitable partner to Egypt in the 21st century if the two sides handle their ties well to maximise mutual benefits,” she said.
“The visit also comes at a crucial time for the Egyptian government, which is intensifying its efforts to attract investments.”
Al Sissi’s itinerary in Beijing includes meetings with representatives of top companies to encourage them to invest in his country in various fields, mainly energy.
“Egypt is seeking strongly to make use of the Chinese expertise to help solve our electricity problem,” said Egyptian Minister of Electricity Mohammad Shaker, one of several officials accompanying Al Sissi in the trip.
“China has made a big breakthrough in using coal in operating electricity stations and at the same time curbing harmful emissions.”
Last summer, Egypt suffered its worst power crisis in years, which the government attributed to a shortage of money necessary to import fuel to operate electricity facilities, and to attacks by suspected Islamists on energy pylons.
