China’s minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng, said he wants to strengthen trade and economic ties with Egypt during the opening addresses at the Egypt Economic Development Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Hucheng said China was ready to “intensify cooperation” with Egypt, outlining to delegates areas in which the two countries could co-operate.

He said Chinese companies were keen to invest in and work on infrastructure projects in Egypt in the energy and transport sectors, including high-speed rail and aviation.

Partners

China is already a major trading partner of Egypt’s and Hucheng says he wants to see more two-way flow of goods being sold into both markets.

China has previously cooperated with Egypt on the development of the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone. To-date there 30 Chinese companies will operations in the freezone. 

Hucheng says he hopes to speed up the expansion of this zone and attract companies from a wider range of sectors to set up operations within the zone.