Non-Subscriber Extract
China and Egypt go hand in hand
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| 18 January 2007 |
Sino-Egyptian relations are anchored in economic co-operation that encompasses a wide array of plans, projects and activities. Bilateral trade in 2005 climbed to USD2.145 billion, an increase of over 36 per cent from 2004. In fact, the two sides set a target of USD5 billion in trade by 2009, an amount equivalent to the current level of US-Egyptian trade.
Efforts are underway to enhance co-operation in the energy sector, as might be expected given China's soaring consumption requirements and import dependence and Egypt's estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and 1.9 trillion cubic metres of gas reserves. The two sides recently agreed to establish a company to manufacture rigs for oil and gas prospecting.
A number of leading Chinese manufacturing companies have recently entered the Egyptian market, as they acquire or seek to enhance their global reach. In aviation, China National Aero-Technology and Export Corporation (CATIC) joined the Egyptian aircraft manufacturing company AOI/ACL to produce 80 K-8E jet training aircraft.
Enablers and constraints
Changes in the political climate have also affected Sino-Egyptian relations positively, albeit indirectly. Most significant is the fact that relations between Cairo and Washington are strained. The sources of friction between Cairo and Washington range from diverging viewpoints on Iraq and the Middle East peace process to conflicting approaches regarding economic and especially political reform, some of the same issues on which the Egyptian and Chinese positions are closely aligned.
Yet it is prudent to keep all facets of Sino-Egyptian relations in perspective, particularly regarding nuclear co-operation.
First, Cairo's ambitious nuclear energy plans and manouvring from the early 1960s through the late 1980s led to requests for assistance, feasibility studies, discussions and contracts with numerous partners; from Argentina and Australia, to France, (West) Germany, Pakistan, South Korea and the Soviet Union.
Second, besides reaching out to China to discuss nuclear co-operation, President Mubarak also approached Russia and Kazakhstan, even refusing to rule out seeking US and European partners.
Third, Egypt's decision to revive its nuclear energy programme and enlist China's support in that effort springs from a complex set of motivations ranging from harnessing a valuable instrument for economic development and deploying it as a symbol of national independence, to reasserting itself as a regional power.
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© 2007 Jane's Information Group
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