Momentum from Chinese president’s Cairo visit to be exploited in promoting ties

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said the momentum from Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming Cairo visit has to be used in promoting economic, political, trade and cultural ties.

During a meeting of the Cabinet’s China unit, the prime minister stressed that drafts of agreements and projects expected to be signed during the visit have to be completed.

The meeting reviewed a number of transport projects, whose technical and financial negotiations with Chinese companies have been accomplished, to be signed during the Chinese president’s visit later this month.

The projects include an electric passenger train between the cities of Al Salam and Tenth of Ramadan and another cargo one between Bilbeis and Robiki districts.

As for ready-for-signing agreements in the electricity and renewable energy sector, the meeting probed a project of Ataqa mountain station to store 2,100 megawatts of electricity at a cost of $2.3 billion and two coal-operated power stations in Al Hamraween area, Cabinet spokesman Hossam Qawish said.

Among the projects to be probed with the Chinese side is the first phase of the new administrative capital, which will include 13 ministries, a Cabinet HQ, a parliament building, a conference hall and an expo city, with a cost of $2.5 billion.

The city will also include 15,000 residential units, a recreational city and sports establishments, the spokesman said, adding that the first phase is expected to be complete in 2.5 years.