On the 21st and 22nd of November 2017, at the invitation of the Association of Arab-Chinese Friendship Associations, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad participated in the First Conference on “Prospects of Arabic-African-Chinese Relations within the Context of Belt and Road Initiative”, held in Khartoum, Sudan. The conference was attended by Officials and Scholars from more than 20 Arab and African States, and a number of Chinese Scholars and Academics. The Conference was held in eight sessions.

In his speech, at the 3rd Session of the Conference, titled “Political Implications of Silk Road in both Arab and African States”, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad touched on Silk Road, geopolitical rivalry in the Middle East and Africa, and ways of enhancing Sino-Arab and Afro-Chinese Cooperation, within the context of the Initiative, emphasizing that since it was launched in 2013 until now, the Initiative has been received with heated discussions by Academics, Think-Tanks as well as Local and International Media. Some observers interpret the Initiative as China’s Grand Strategy aimed at meeting China’s aimed at meeting China’s Security and Military Ambitions.

In light of the magnitude of the Initiative, it should be noted that it encompasses about three-quarters of world’s population and about 40 per cent of World Gross Product (WGP). Perhaps the Initiative’s most important impact, when implemented, lies in the further deepening of political and economic integration between China and the States that would be covered by the Belt and Road Initiative.

Undoubtedly, the Belt and Road Initiative provides a rare strategic opportunity for AU’s Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want, launched by the African Union in 2015, the very same year in which Sino-African relations were upgraded to the level of “Comprehensive and Collaborative Strategic Partnership”.

The economic development that the Initiative would contribute to the Continent’s States will have far-reaching important political impacts on both Arab and African regions, manifested primarily in achieving peace, social security and stability and in aiding gradual modernization of the global governance system.