Tianjin: Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania A. Al-Mashat took part in a significant high-level session titled "Where is the Belt and Road in 2025?" at the World Economic Forum meetings held from June 23-26, 2025, in Tianjin, China. The theme of the forum was 'Resilient Economic Policies to Keep Up with Global Change.'
According to State Information Service Egypt, Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of international partnerships grounded in shared interests and noted the extensive participation of countries in the Belt and Road Initiative, reflecting its global significance. She highlighted last year's celebration of the 10th anniversary of the initiative's launch, where participating nations showcased projects supporting sustainable infrastructure in transport, renewable energy, and ports.
Al-Mashat asserted that these projects align with national priorities and, for Egypt, are consistent with the country's national agenda and strategic objectives. She articulated that the Belt and Road Initiative has been instrumental in advancing national strategies, supported by other global initiatives like China's Global Development Initiative, which complements Belt and Road projects.
Financing was identified as a key topic, with Al-Mashat detailing that a significant portion of funding for these projects comes from development finance. Specifically, she noted the mobilization of resources towards the private sector, particularly in sustainable transport and renewable energy projects in Egypt, facilitated by low-cost development finance.
Discussing Egypt-China relations, Al-Mashat recalled the pivotal 2014 visit of the Chinese President to Egypt, which marked an essential milestone in bilateral relations. This visit was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative. Al-Mashat explained that the relationship between the two nations is rooted in investments and development cooperation, with Chinese companies actively investing in Egypt, and the two governments collaborating on multiple projects in health, satellites, and capacity building.
Al-Mashat also highlighted the role of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) in supporting Egypt's development agenda and mentioned the debt swap agreement signed by China several years ago. She pointed out the economic activities within the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Egypt, where over 150 Chinese companies operate, providing more than 10,000 job opportunities across various sectors.