CAIRO (AP) \u2014 China\u2019s chief diplomat was in Cairo Sunday for talks with Egyptian and Arab League officials, marking his last stop in a\u00a0multi-leg trip to Africa\u00a0that aims to consolidate Beijing\u2019s footprint across the resource-rich continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Foreign Minister Qin Gang met separately with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit. He also met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a joint news conference, Foreign Minister Shoukry said the talks addressed Sino-Egyptian relations and increasing Chinese tourism to the Middle Eastern country, which has for years struggled to\u00a0revive its vital tourism sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both ministers said they also discussed regional issues including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tensions have risen after the return to office last month of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is heading Israel\u2019s most right-wing and religiously conservative government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to a Chinese reporter\u2019s question, Qin urged Israel to \u201cstop incitements and provocations, and to refrain from taking uniliteral actions that could worsen the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also called for \u201cmaintaining the status quo\u201d at Jerusalem\u2019s most important holy site, after\u00a0an ultranationalist Israeli Cabinet minister visited it\u00a0earlier this year. That visit drew fierce condemnation from across the Muslim world and a strong rebuke from the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qin also reiterated China\u2019s longstanding position of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on \u201cthe two-state-solution and the land-for-peace principle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his meeting with el-Sissi, the Chinese foreign minister said Beijing would continue to develop its investment in Egypt\u2019s infrastructure projects including those with links to China\u2019s Belt and Road initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China has invested billions of dollars in Egyptian state-led projects such as the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the new administrative capital, which is being built east of Cairo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aboul-Gheit, the Arab League chief, meanwhile, said China\u2019s growing cooperation with the Arab world would not negatively impact Arab ties with the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis cooperation doesn\u2019t cause any damage to any third party,\u201d he said in a separate news conference with the Chinese foreign minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qin arrived in Cairo Saturday afternoon. His weeklong trip included Ethiopia, where the African Union headquarters is located, as well as Gabon, Angola and Benin. It was Qin\u2019s first overseas trip since his appointment in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His Africa tour came a month after\u00a0President Joe Biden hosted dozens of African leaders in Washington, pledging government funding and private investment to help the continent develop in the fields of health, infrastructure, business and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more than three decades, China\u2019s foreign ministers have started their terms by visiting Africa, whose growing population as a continent rivals China\u2019s. Beijing has invested heavily in infrastructure in African countries, including roads, energy infrastructure, telecommunications, railways, and hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Chinese financial groups and funds also gave out $160 billion in loans to Africa between 2000 and 2020, according to the Chinese Loans to Africa Database. Qin said last week China has been Africa\u2019s largest trading partner for the past 13 years, with mutual trade expected to exceed $260 billion in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amide the coronavirus pandemic, China raced to provide vaccines to Africa, which received only 1% of global COVID-19 vaccine supplies. China also funded the construction of a new headquarters for the African Center for Disease Control in Ethiopia\u2019s capital, Addis Ababa. The new center was opened last week during Qin\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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