Full story
Xi’s SCO and Egypt Trip
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and then travel to Egypt as part of a state visit from August 30 to September 3, China’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
“August 30 to September 3”
In Bishkek, Xi will hold talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov and discuss deepening cooperation as well as major international and regional issues with participating countries and leaders, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
The trip to Egypt will be Xi’s first state visit to the North African country in 10 years, where he will meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and exchange views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern.
Anatolia Ajansı reported that Xi will travel to Bishkek on Sunday and conclude his trip next Thursday, and said the visits were arranged at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The Chinese foreign ministry also framed the SCO leg as a platform for multilateral coordination, with Lin Jian describing China and Kyrgyzstan as “good neighbors” and “good friends of mutual trust” during his remarks in Beijing.
Talks, Invitations, and Joint Drills
Lin Jian told a daily press conference that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO and said Xi will have in-depth exchanges of views with participating leaders on deepening SCO cooperation in various fields.
In Kyrgyzstan, the foreign ministry spokesperson said Xi will hold talks with President Japarov and attend various state events, and Anadolu Ajansı said the visits come at the invitation of Sadyr Japarov and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
For Egypt, the Egyptian presidency separately confirmed that Xi will pay an official visit “in the coming days,” and said Sisi and Xi will discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership across various areas of mutual interest.
The Anadolu Ajansı report added that Xi’s trip to Egypt comes as the militaries of the two countries are holding joint air force drills, dubbed “Eagles of Civilisation,” in the North African country.
It said China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force deployed J-16 fighter jets, YU-20 aerial tankers, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft and Z-20 helicopters, while Egypt is deploying French-made Rafale fighter jets for the exercises.
Regional Focus and Bilateral Stakes
China’s foreign ministry said Xi’s Bishkek agenda will include exchanges on “major international and regional issues of our times,” and it described the SCO as having “grown into a comprehensive regional cooperation organization” over the past 25 years.
“build up consensus and write a new chapter of cooperation in Bishkek”
In the same briefing, Lin Jian said China stands ready to work with various parties to “build up consensus and write a new chapter of cooperation in Bishkek,” linking the summit to security, stability, development and revitalization of regional countries.
For Egypt, Lin Jian said the visit carries “great significance” and that Xi and Sisi will exchange views on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest.
Anadolu Ajansı reported that Xi’s Egypt trip is his first state visit to the country in 10 years, and said bilateral trade has grown to more than $10 billion.
The Al Jazeera report on the tour said the SCO summit will be attended by member states including Russia and Iran, and that Xi will discuss deepening cooperation as well as major international and regional issues with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian telling a daily news conference on Wednesday.