Egypt is aspiring to have more collaboration with China in the fields of education, cultural exchange and industrialization, said Egyptian Ambassador to China Assem Hanafi ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year, or the Year of the Snake.
In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Assem Hanafi highlighted the achievements that China and Egypt have made last year and over the past decade since the establishment of their comprehensive strategic partnership. He expressed aspiration for more bilateral cooperation in the future.
"The year 2024 has been a very important and crucial year in the history of relations between China and Egypt. We celebrate together the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China. Ten exceptional years of achievements of unconditional friendship, impressive projects, credible investment. We have seen the state visit by President Sisi to China last May but also to attend the China Arab Cooperation Forum. We have seen an exceptionally dynamic interactions between various ministers, business communities," said Hanafi.
"We are now aspiring to have more collaboration in the fields of education, cultural exchanges and industrialization," he said.
Assem Hanafi emphasized that Egypt-China coordination across various international platforms has strengthened their shared pursuit of peace and development.
"Egypt also became member in the beginning of 2024 of BRICS, which is one of the leading mechanisms in the Global South aspirations for more representation of our people's needs. The coordination between Egypt and China and the Belt and Road initiative, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in the various mechanisms of the UN system, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This of course is very important to bring the complementarity of all these channels together to strengthen our common pursuit for development, for peace," he said.
"I always say that old friends stand together in all good and not so good times," he added.
The Year of the Snake holds special significance for Hanafi, as it aligns with his zodiac sign. This year marks his third and final time celebrating Chinese New Year in China. He feels a deep connection with the cultural concept of the festival - reunion which also reminds him of his own country's traditions during festival celebrations.
"It's a very special occasion for Chinese people and also for us as living here, celebrating together this very important event. The Year of Snake, of course, has a lot of special meanings. I belong to this year as well. So it's also for me a celebration. People like to go to the villages, to the roots, stay with their families from all ages, which reminds me also of the way we celebrate our feasts in Egypt," said Hanafi.
Always we gather around the elders of the family, we have good meal together, all of us. We celebrate, we sing together. Despite all the challenges we have, despite all the problems that we encounter, we seize these very precious moments to celebrate and to rejoice at the blessings that we have. I'm hopeful that all these challenges can be overcome by sheer force of goodwill," he said.
The Spring Festival, which marks the start of a new year on the Chinese lunar calendar, is the biggest annual holiday for the Chinese people. It falls on Jan 29 this year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.
"I wish you all happiness, prosperity, and a very good and wonderful times together with your families and to China prosperous. When China prospers, the whole world prospers. And I wish friendship between Egypt and China enduring success," the ambassador extended his greetings ahead of the grand festival.
Egypt to expand cooperation with China: ambassador
