Speech of Ambassador/ Dr. Ezzat Saad In the Closing Session of the Third Forum of Silk Road Network for Civil Society Organizations (SIRONET) Entitled “People – To – People Bonds”

(Beijing 19-21 October 2023)

In the period from 16 to 22 October 2023, with invitation from Silk Road Network for Civil Society Organizations (SIRONET), Dr. Ezzat Saad visited Beijing to participate in the events of the third Belt and Road Forum of the Network under the title of “People – To – People Bonds” on 19 – 21 October. In his speech, Dr. Ezzat Saad expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to Silk Road Network for Civil Society Organizations (SIRONET) and to its leadership for the kind invitation to participate in this important international event, which is held to address the topic “Bonds among People” as one of the important aspects that should be enhanced in the international relations.

Dr. Ezzat Saad pointed out that the modern Chinese strategic thought is aiming to ensure positive and interacting relations with its neighboring countries.  As china sought to enhance comprehensive and interactive development with the developing countries as a key to build a new type of international relations. In order to achieve this, it was necessary for china to be opened up to other countries with its diversified culture and civilization, and to participate in building comprehensive economic and geopolitical environment as a priority for chinse strategy. In this context, Belt and Road initiative, which celebrates its 10^th anniversary of the launch by President Xi Jinping, is an important component to build a group that shares the future of humanity. This is in addition to many other initiatives like Global Security Initiative and Global Development initiative.

Since the 18^th conference of the Chinese communist party in 2018, china has paid a big attention to the cooperation with the developing countries. As, his excellency president Xi Jinping mentioned that “A large number of developing countries are natural allies to China in the international affairs, and we should adhere to justice when sharing interests, and to be cooperative and in solidarity with the developing countries”.

This cooperation appears in Belt and Road Initiative in a framework of cooperation with different regional groups in Africa, Arabic region, and Latin America and others. This is in addition to bilateral and multilateral cooperation among China and many other countries.

The Chinese leadership has gave attention to the principle of “Solidarity” which appears in the report of his Excellency President Xi Jinping in the 20^th conference of Chinese Communist Party, as the president described it by the “Power” and this is the only thing that lead to victory to serve people with honesty and sincerity, and to adhere to the principle “Everything we do, is for the people, and by depending on them”, in addition to the principle “From and to the masses”.

In the framework of cooperation among China and the other countries, China signed more than 200 cooperation agreements under Belt and Road initiative with 152 countries and 32 international organizations. The joint action initiative for building a Silk Road community implemented more than 300 cooperation projects in the entertainment field, and partnerships with nearly 600 non-governmental organizations between China and the world.

Today, the membership of International Silk Road reached more than 500 member. Until the end of 2021, China launched a scientific and technological cooperation with 84 countries, and supported 1118 joint research projects with total investment of 2.99 Billion yuan (418.92 million dollar).

It’s noteworthy that at the first Chinese/Arabic summit, which is held in December 2022, China promised to work on enhancing cooperation between 500 Chinese and Arabic cultural and tourism institutions, and to train 1000 cultural and tourism talents from the Arab world, and to work with the Arab side to implement a mutual translation projects for 100 classical works, as well as a cooperation project for 50 audio-visual projects. In this regard, it’s noted that the Chinese plans and regulations has added to the world in which civilizations learn, appreciate, and cooperate with each other.

In a related context, Amb/Saad asserted on the important role of civil society organizations in enhancing relations among people through activating and maximizing cooperation among different think tanks to constitute the continental cooperation, in order to achieve common good for all humanity and solve the various problems that prevent prosperity.

In this regard, he appreciated the role and efforts of Silk Road Network of Civil Society Organizations (SIRONET), as it characterized by its openness, inclusiveness, equality and mutual respect. And It is aim to foster cooperation, coexistence, and common benefits among countries and achieve sustainable development.

Also, he expressed his happiness for the flourishing relations among ECFA and number of Chinese research centers and Chinses thought centers, as it developed over the years. These relations flourished through many meetings that held between ECFA and Chinese centers either in Egypt or China. These centers include SIRONET, Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), China Center for Contemporary World Studies (CCCWS), China Institute for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), and Egyptian Chinese Friendship Association.