CGTN：From desert to opportunity: China-Egypt ties deepen across sectors

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeGlobeNewswireThis section is The content in this section is supplied by GlobeNewswire for the purposes of distributing press releases on behalf of its clients. Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire CGTN：From desert to opportunity: China-Egypt ties deepen across sectorsAuthor of the article:BEIJING, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CGTN publishes an article highlighting how China-Egypt cooperation has grown beyond industrial projects to encompass broader economic and strategic ties. The article spotlights the Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, growing Egyptian agricultural exports to China and the broader significance of the two countries’ 70-year relationship.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountA decade after China and Egypt launched the second phase of their joint economic and trade cooperation zone in the desert along the Suez Canal, the area has grown into an industrial cluster of nearly 200 companies, creating about 10,000 jobs and becoming a tangible example of how bilateral cooperation can translate into local development.The China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has attracted companies in building materials, petroleum equipment, electrical equipment and machinery, with cumulative investment exceeding $4.7 billion, according to the reports by People’s Daily. What was once undeveloped desert has become an industrial platform linking China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Egypt’s development strategy for the Suez Canal Corridor.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe transformation reflects a broader shift in China-Egypt ties, from individual infrastructure projects toward cooperation that connects investment, employment and markets. During talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the two countries should deepen cooperation and continue advancing the building of a China-Egypt community with a shared future.New engine of local developmentThe Suez zone has increasingly moved beyond conventional manufacturing, with solar projects and an emerging circular economy pointing toward greener and lower-carbon development. The expansion into new sectors has also brought more direct benefits to Egypt’s economy and workforce.Chinese-invested projects have helped strengthen Egypt’s power supply, with a solar park substation project providing about 16,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity since completion, while Chinese companies have trained local engineers and workers, with some Egyptian employees moving into technical and management positions. At a joint venture between China XD Electric and Egyptian-owned EGEMAC, local employees account for 97% of the workforce.Such cooperation is part of a broader model of mutually beneficial development. In a signed article published in Egyptian media ahead of Xi’s visit, he said China and Egypt should “pursue mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and set a benchmark for joint development.”Egyptian products find a growing market in ChinaThe relationship is increasingly running in both directions, with Egyptian products gaining greater access to China’s large consumer market.China’s trade with Egypt reached 95.19 billion yuan ($14.16 billion) in the first seven months of 2026, up 18.7% year on year, Chinese official data shows. Chinese exports to Egypt rose 17.5%, while imports from Egypt jumped 49.4%.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Agricultural trade has been a particular growth area. China’s imports of Egyptian agricultural products rose 82.6% in the first seven months, accounting for 41.7% of China’s total imports from Egypt. Egypt was China’s largest source of frozen strawberries and third-largest source of flax, with the two products accounting for 96.7% and 7.7% of China’s respective imports.Egypt, one of the world’s leading orange exporters, shipped fresh oranges worth about $26 million to China in 2025. An agricultural exporter who travels to China several times a year said strong demand for Egyptian oranges among Chinese consumers has encouraged producers to improve quality.In an article, Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper said China’s zero-tariff measures for African products had opened access to a market of more than 1.4 billion people, while noting that lower tariffs alone would not guarantee success. Product quality, stable supply and localized marketing would remain important for Egyptian companies seeking to expand in China, the newspaper said.The significance of the relationship goes beyond trade and investment as China and Egypt mark 70 years of diplomatic ties. Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and the two countries have since expanded cooperation into culture, education, science and technology, health and other fields.Xi has said China and Egypt set an example of friendship, solidarity and coordination between developing countries, noting that both are important members of the Global South.Egypt’s position gives that partnership a wider regional dimension. As a major Arab and African country, it serves as a link between the Arab world and Africa, while China and Egypt coordinate in multilateral frameworks including the United Nations and BRICS.At a time of persistent instability in the Middle East, Xi has also called for greater regional autonomy in security, comprehensive approaches to hotspot issues, development to underpin security and stronger international coordination.https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-09-02/From-desert-to-opportunity-China-Egypt-ties-deepen-across-sectors-1Q7mph80npS/p.htmlContact: CGTN Digital jiang.simin@cgtn.comNotice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.