BRI brings new link for two oldest civilizations

Note: the following is a transcript of an interview with Egypt’s former Prime Minister, Essam Sharaf, on the China-Egypt cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, as two oldest civilizations, one boasting the Great Wall while the other the Pyramids and both linked by the ancient Silk Road, now finding new opportunities to join hands for development.

CRI:China has undergone rapid changes over the past five years, and your Excellency, you have been in China several times. As an old friend, what achievements draw most of your attention?

Dr. Sharaf: Well, you know, during the last two years, I visited China every few months. And I can see changes. Let me select the most important achievements. From my point of view, I want to mention two broad things. The first is the well application of Chinese dream, and that goes to people, humanity, and the poverty eradication, which is strengthening the middle class. Take the poverty eradication for example, the United Nation agenda for sustainable development calls for countries to get rid of poverty by 2030. China currently only has about 3% or 4% under the poverty line, and is supposed to erase its poverty by 2020. So China is actually ahead of UN's agenda by 10 years. So the welfare and social justice, as mentioned, is socialism with Chinese Characteristics. This is very important to create what I call it the strong inside. Middle class is the most important layer of people that presenting the stage of community. To me it does resemble that cross section in the highway pavement. Highway pavement usually consists of three layers. The top layer is the leak layer which represents the elites’ group, and the down layer is the poor. So what we put in the middle is actually supporting the above layer and protecting the lower layers. Therefore the stronger the middle layer is, the stronger the entire structure will be. So exactly in the society likes that, when you strengthen the middle class, you strengthen the society as a whole. Because a society with a strong inside could be capable of solving problems and also facing international challenges. So it is a very important achievement. The other thing impressed me the most is One Belt One Road Initiative, which was announced in 2013. And I personally give a lot of presentations and lectures about the experiences of China. And I feel this is very important not only for China, but also for the entire world. Let me go back for the two issues, the middle class and poverty eradication together are coming in the center of the Chinese dream. The Chinese dream is not only a target for the Chinese; it is also a dream for the humanity. Because whatever the contents inside the Chinese dream, that is what supported by a lot of countries. So if China could achieve success in the Chinese dream that would be reflected to the entire world.

Photo taken on March 15, 2016 shows tourists walking at the Khan el-Khalili bazaar marketplace in Cairo, Egypt.[Photo: Xinhua]

CRI: Still remember last year during your visit to XinJiang province, you’ve mentioned Chinese dream as well. You said it has gradually recognized by the youngsters in Arab states.

Dr. Sharaf: That was when I came here in 2014. I was invited two times to talk about the initiative. And the other one was talking about the Chinese dream. To me, I found a study in which it has asked young people from different countries, which of the three dreams you see will be sustained and achieved: American dream, European dream or Chinese dream? And most of the people say it is the Chinese dream most likely to be maintained and achieved. So it is important to promote the Chinese dream as humanity dream.

CRI: And you also talked about the Belt and Road Initiative and Egypt is in the focal spot in the Belt and Road Initiative. And last year the trade between Egypt and China volume amounted to 11.3 billion US dollars. So in your opinion, what role does the Belt and Road Initiative play in Egypt?

Dr. Sharaf: I see it as a concept not a project. It is a concept that brings people together. Now about 70 countries have showed their interests. These countries cover almost 70% of the world population, and more than one third of the world economy. The current globalization is kind of inhumane, and very hostile. So by bringing these countries together, they will create a power, which can actually balance the unbalanced global governance. China, as a leading role among these countries, is developing its old civilization and values to a more modernized global governance model. Back to Egypt and China, there are many cooperation fields under the Belt and Road Initiative. There are about seven projects in infrastructure, communication and other fields are underway. I believe that among projects between Egypt and China, the most important projects are the ones within the cultural and economic zones, especially those under the New Suez Canal economic corridor, which includes logistics and service projects, industrial parks, technology centers and tourist programs. The economic corridor has offered a new field for Chinese investment which has been growing steadily over the past years. And the two sides have witnessed a great success in building the Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in the Suez Canal region. We are hoping more cooperation between China and Egypt will be launched in the near future.