NEW DELHI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Secretary-General of Egypt's National Security Council Youssef Alaa El-Deen, in New Delhi.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt, and China is ready to work with Egypt to take the anniversary as an opportunity to maintain close high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, advance practical cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, and continuously enrich the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership.
Noting that the international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes, Wang said that as important members of the Global South, China and Egypt share extensive common ground in international and regional affairs and shoulder significant responsibilities in maintaining international and regional stability.
China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt on multilateral platforms such as BRICS and the United Nations, jointly safeguard the independence, self-reliance, solidarity and strength of the Global South, actively promote the process of multipolarity, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
El-Deen said China is Egypt's true friend and partner, and that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is well-founded and has yielded fruitful results.
Egypt thanks China for its long-term support and assistance, firmly abides by the one-China principle, and resolutely opposes interference by other countries in China's internal affairs, El-Deen said.
Guided by the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state and taking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity, Egypt is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, deepen practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, the BRICS mechanism and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and push for greater development of bilateral relations, he said.
The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East.
El-Deen briefed on the latest developments and the mediation efforts of Egypt and other parties under the four-party mechanism, and spoke highly of China's important role in promoting the cessation of hostilities and peace.
Wang stressed that China has always maintained that regional hotspot issues and differences among all parties should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, and opposes the use of force or threat of force.
The memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran should be jointly upheld and implemented, Wang said, noting that while the negotiation process can hardly be smooth and may still face various disruptions and even setbacks, since the door to peace has been opened, it should not be closed again.
No matter what difficulties and challenges may arise, the direction of peace, as well as dialogue and consultation, should be upheld, Wang said.
China is ready to maintain communication with Egypt, continue to promote peace talks through respective channels, and jointly contribute to regional peace and stability, he said. ■
