Minister of Youth and Sports Discusses Strengthening Cooperation with Chinese Ambassador
Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, received today at the Ministry’s headquarters the Chinese Ambassador to Cairo, Mr. Liao Liqiang, along with the Cultural Counselor at the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Zhang Yi.
The meeting focused on enhancing the Egyptian-Chinese partnership, with both parties emphasizing the importance of building upon the deep-rooted historical ties between the two nations to broaden the scope of mutual cooperation.
Minister Sobhy affirmed that cooperation with China stands as a successful model of strategic partnership. He noted that sports have increasingly become a key tool of soft power, capable of reinforcing international relations and fostering dialogue and understanding among nations.
He further stressed the Ministry's commitment to engaging with successful international experiences and to promoting cultural, sports, and youth exchanges—particularly with China—given its advanced expertise and development vision, which aligns with Egypt’s efforts to enhance infrastructure and invest in human capital.
In the sports sector, the two sides explored avenues for technical cooperation, including the exchange of coaches and experts, especially in sports where both countries excel—such as squash, kung fu, weightlifting, and gymnastics. They also reviewed initiatives to develop sports infrastructure, share expertise in managing modern sports facilities, and collaborate in the manufacturing of sports equipment to support the local sports economy.
Regarding youth development, the discussions covered joint youth exchange programs focused on entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and small-scale enterprises, aimed at developing young people’s capabilities and promoting their active role in sustainable development.
Ambassador Liao expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Minister Sobhy and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, affirming China's commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation. He highlighted that China regards Egypt as a key partner in the region, with whom it seeks to build a successful model of integrated development.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to establish joint technical working groups to ensure the effective implementation of agreed initiatives and to translate shared visions into actionable programs that strengthen bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation.