Chinese president arrives Cairo Wednesday, Luxor Thursday

Chinese president Xi Jinping will arrive in Cairo on Wednesday to meet his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to discuss regional matters and bilateral relations, then will head to Luxor on Thursday, MENA reported.

The Chinese president’s trip is part of a larger Middle East tour, the first of its kind in 10 years. His tour of the region will also include visits to Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The vice-president of the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday in a press conference that the regional tour will be an opportunity for dialogue with the three countries’ leaders about regional matters and areas of mutual interest.

While in Cairo, China’s president will give a speech directed to the Arab world, at the Arab League headquarters, that will explain China’s policy towards the Middle East, and its will to support peace and development in the region.

He will also attend the launching of the second phase of the Egyptian-Chinese commercial and economic project in Ain Sokhna town, located in the North-West of the Gulf of Suez, a six square kilometres area that is preparing to attract industrial investments amounting to around $30 billion.

The Chinese president will arrive in Luxor on Thursday to attend a celebration at Luxor temple for the beginning of the new Egyptian-Chinese cultural year and the 60th anniversary of Egyptian-Chinese relations.

The Egyptian Culture Minister Helmy El-Nemnem arrived in Luxor on Monday to receive his Chinese counterpart who will arrive to Luxor on Tuesday. Both ministers will prepare for Thursday’s celebration.

El-Nemnem said the choice of Luxor temple to hold the celebration comes in the context of supporting tourism by shedding light on Luxor’s Pharaonic monuments for the world to see.

 source:Ahram Online