Cairo: The Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS) held its inaugural coordination meeting to engage Egyptian national authorities and business groups in discussions concerning economic and trade relations between Egypt and China. This meeting included representatives from various government bodies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Veterinary and Agricultural Quarantine, the Customs Authority, the Industrial Development Authority, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the Egyptian Competition Authority and Prevention of Monopolistic Practices, the General Organization for Export and Import Control, and the Trade Agreements Sector. The Egyptian Commercial Office in Beijing also participated virtually, with Minister Plenipotentiary (Commercial) Khaled Milad providing insights into the agreement and the ongoing economic, trade, and investment relations between Egypt and China.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Dr. Abdel Aziz El Sherif, First Undersecretary of the Ministry and Head of the Commercial Service, emphasized the meeting's focus on discussing the Joint Development Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries, which was formalized in December 2024. The Chinese side has shown interest in activating the agreement through the zero-tariff initiative, proposed by the Chinese President during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in June 2025, known as the Early Harvest Initiative.
Dr. El Sherif highlighted the importance of engaging all participating authorities in building a unified Egyptian perspective to address the Chinese initiative, prioritizing national interests such as protecting the local industry, boosting exports, and attracting investments. He reiterated the strategic and historical ties between Egypt and China, noting the significant political attention these relations are receiving. China remains Egypt's leading trade partner, with trade exchange values exceeding 17 billion USD in 2024, marking a 10% increase from the previous year.
The meeting concluded with a decision to develop a comprehensive study, incorporating contributions from all involved authorities, to establish a unified national stance on the Chinese initiative. The aim is to enhance trade facilitation between the two nations, aligning with Egypt's national goals and priorities.
The session was attended by key officials, including Minister Plenipotentiary (Commercial) Sayed Ahmed Fouad, Director of the Asia Department, and First Commercial Secretary Mohamed Ahmed Attia, who is responsible for the China-related activities within the Asia Department.