Egypt had signed a new MoU with one of China’s diagnostics giants, Snibe, to help advance the Northern African country’s medical sector.
The Shenzhen-Cairo Economic and Trade Exchange Forum 2025, which serves as one of the leading platforms advancing economic and investment ties between China and Egypt, witnessed the participation of Ahmed El-Sobky, Chairperson of the Egypt Healthcare Authority. Given the rising global economic tensions, it was natural for both these countries to explore new areas for partnerships, and the Summit drew focus to priority sectors, particularly, smart and technological healthcare.
China remains undeterred in the face of this escalating trade war. Despite Donald Trump’s efforts to cripple the Chinese economy, Beijing is putting up a strong fight against every blow. The Chinese government is expanding its influence across sectors and countries and is trying to forge new avenues for cooperation. At last year’s BRICS Summit, the member nations stressed the need to improve bilateral trade and reduce reliance on the US dollar. To that effect, China had already begun making contingency plans to shield itself from Trump’s unending tariffs.
Both public and private enterprises from the world’s second-largest economy are working to facilitate more international trade, investment and collaboration. El-Sobky announced that Egypt had signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of China’s diagnostics giants, Snibe, to help advance the Northern African country’s medical sector. Through this partnership, China will assist in integrating diagnostic complexities into Egyptian healthcare.
The transfer of advanced medical technologies is also part of this MoU, which is backed by Chinese investment. According to El-Sobki, having already entered into partnerships with tech giants like Mindray and Huawei, this new collaboration with Snibe is a symbol of growing opportunities for the two countries, which has now extended to laboratory and diagnostic innovation.
The groundwork for this partnership was laid during El-Sobki’s previous visit to China, where future cooperation in biotechnology and gene medicine was discussed. Egypt aims to transform into a regional centre for advanced medical technologies, and such a partnership facilitates the development of smart medical city models like that of Huawei’s advanced campuses in China.
Daily News Egypt reported that El Sobki described such a strategic partnership as one with the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery across the country, adding that it was a moment of “genuine momentum in Egyptian-Chinese healthcare collaboration” which could result in building hospitals to breakthroughs in technological models of medical care.
He also said that China was one of Egypt’s most valued strategic partners and an important force behind augmenting economic cooperation in Africa and the Middle East. Addressing investors directly at the Summit, El-Sobki urged them to visit Shenzhen as it would help in knowledge transfer and business development, encouraging the business community to capitalise on this existing foundation to deliver tangible results.
Several other MoUs were also signed at this forum, of which the most notable one was between the Egypt Healthcare Authority and Shenzhen New Industries Biomedical Engineering Co. (Snibe). Other key agreements centred around enhancing technical and institutional capacity by conducting workshops, training programs, field visits and similar skill and knowledge sharing programs. Provisions are also made to facilitate knowledge transfer by supporting Egyptian healthcare professionals under the Universal Health Insurance System.
Chen Weiqiang, Mayor of Shenzhen, who invited investors and Egyptian representatives to visit China, praised Cairo’s investor-friendly environment and promised to explore more avenues to strengthen bilateral relations. Liao Liqiang, China’s Ambassador to Egypt, who was also present at the event, commended both countries for their economic cooperation.
As the world stands on the brink of a trade war, it comes as little surprise that countries are more interested than ever in exploring newer opportunities for cooperation. China’s goal to expand its areas of influence across the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) is a longstanding one, and collaboration in sectors like healthcare, energy, technology, etc, certainly makes Beijing an attractive choice for an international partner.
