Cairo: At the outset, I would like to welcome my friend, Chinese President Xi Jinping, to Egypt on this historic visit, which coincides with the two countries' celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956.According to State Information Service Egypt, Egypt was the first Arab and African country to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The relations between the two friendly countries have developed steadily until they were elevated to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014. This has enabled the two countries to play an effective role in shaping international interactions within a global system undergoing significant and rapid changes.President El-Sisi expressed his pleasure at the tangible leap achieved in Egyptian-Chinese relations across various fields, driven by a clear political will to elevate the horizons of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the localization of industry and technology tran sfer. These areas are a top priority for both countries, and there is a strong commitment to continued joint work with China to achieve further fruitful results. Reflecting this approach, President El-Sisi announced the agreement to launch the third phase of the expansion of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.This expansion will usher in a new operational phase in key sectors such as renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, textiles, and chemical fibers. On the regional front, Egypt is actively working to de-escalate tensions and prioritize diplomatic solutions to settle crises, aiming to achieve peace and support development for the peoples of the region.President El-Sisi welcomed the alignment of positions between Egypt and China on regional issues of mutual interest. He reaffirmed Egypt's readiness to continue coordination with all regional and international parties, particularly with China, as a pivotal state and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Co uncil. This collaboration aims to promote efforts to reduce regional tension, drive development, and address global challenges that no single country can handle alone. The meeting with President Xi represents an important opportunity to exchange views and ideas in this regard.