Chinese Premier in Egypt

CGTN Europe discussed the significance of this trip with  Isabel Hilton Founder of China Dialogue.

Transcript

00:00Isabel, welcome back. Good to see you. What is the significance of Li's visit to Egypt?

00:07Well, I think it's a sign of China's growing presence in what is a very important region.

00:14And it has a number of key relationships. It has very powerful investments and good relationships in the Gulf States, for example.

00:22It obviously has a relationship with Iran, although that is kind of symbolically important in financial terms.

00:29It's much smaller than its relationships elsewhere.

00:32And Egypt is a really interesting case because Egypt has had a kind of strategic relationship with the United States over many years.

00:41But given the turbulence in the region and the uncertainty about the United States' foreign policy,

00:48it's created an opportunity for China to build a much closer relationship with Egypt.

00:55For example, the two heads of state met twice last year.

00:58That's highly significant.

01:01We see a growing interest in investment in Egypt.

01:06And for China, Egypt, as controller of the Suez Canal, is a key point in a region,

01:14given all the uncertainties around shipping because of recent conflicts.

01:18So this is a very strong signal, I think, that China is sending about its active diplomacy in a critical region.

01:25And what about the timing? Why now? Why engage now?

01:29Well, I mean, we have a region that is in conflict.

01:36It's not just that Li Chang has turned up, as it were, today.

01:41For example, this year we saw a joint military exercise between Egypt and China that lasted 11 days.

01:49That was a substantive military engagement.

01:52We have talks about a security partnership in the sense that Egypt is interested in Chinese military technology.

02:01And I think these are all signals that China is prepared, you know, to be present in a region in a different way from the United States.

02:11I think the announcement that they would work together on trying to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza is highly significant

02:20because neither has been actively engaged in the recent diplomatic negotiations around those conflicts.

02:28So that is very much China asserting a presence.

02:31And China, you know, has had very little experience of actively negotiating in a conflict zone.

02:37But on the other hand, it hasn't been engaged actively in military operations either.

02:42So it has credibility as a neutral partner if it can forge the kind of relationship with Egypt which would lead to some diplomatic outcome.

02:50That would be a significant win.

02:52And neutral partners, you say.

02:54But, I mean, realistically, on Gaza, for instance, could China and Egypt act together to try and stabilize things,

03:01given the almost seemingly intractable position of those other players?

03:07Yeah, I think if anyone had a magic solution in Gaza, that would truly be remarkable.

03:14But I think that China's interest is significant.

03:17And I also think it's a significant signal that Egypt is engaged in a kind of active security conversation with China

03:26rather than with the United States.

03:28So I think we're seeing a kind of shifting, possibly, of momentum.

03:33It has a long way to go.

03:35And I don't think that this is going to achieve a result tomorrow.

03:38But I do think that China's apparent willingness, at least to state an interest in getting involved,

03:46is a significant step forward.

03:48Isabel, good to see you.

03:49Thanks very much for coming back on the program.

03:50I'm Isabel Hilton, the founder of China Dialogue.