China funds electric train project in Egypt

China allocated yesterday a 300 million Chinese yuan ($46 million) grant to Egypt for the implementation of the Egypt Satellite 2 (Egypt Sat-2) project.

The agreement was signed between the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit which was held in China’s coastal city of Xiamen.

Sisi has said that the project will provide safe and modern transport for commuters between Greater Cairo and the New Administrative Capital. It will also facilitate the transport of goods and production materials to and from the cities and industrial areas located along the railway line.

The two presidents also signed a 300,000 Chinese yuan ($46 million) economic and technical cooperation agreement, in addition to a security cooperation agreement between the Egyptian Interior Ministry and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

They also agreed on the importance of strengthening the two governments’ joint cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Read: UN raises ‘grave concerns’ about Egypt’s assault on free speech

In June a high-level Chinese security delegation, accompanied by the deputy for the Chinese public security minister, Cai Zimin, visited Egypt, where they met with the Egyptian Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar. The visit aimed at boosting different channels for exchanging information on terrorism and illegal immigration between the two countries.

Activists have accused Egypt of committing human rights abuses to keep China happy in exchange for these large sums of money.

In July Egyptian police rounded up Uyghurs – one of two majority Muslim communities in China who are persecuted by the central government – who were studying in the country, sent their photographs to the Chinese embassy and deported several. At home they face enforced disappearance and torture.