CAIRO, August 24 – A China-Egypt media joint interview on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation opened in Egypt on August 23, bringing nearly 30 journalists from the two countries to a Geely automobile plant in the Sixth of October City and a Geely sales showroom in New Cairo. The visit focused on how Chinese enterprises are supporting the development of Egypt’s automotive industry, how China-Egypt mutually beneficial cooperation is producing tangible results, and how the growing electric vehicle market is creating new opportunities for consumers and manufacturers.
The joint interview was organized as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. It was the first time Chinese and Egyptian media have conducted a joint interview of this kind under high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Reporters traveled to industrial, commercial, and consumer sites to observe production, speak with managers and workers, and hear from Egyptian consumers about their experience with Chinese-brand vehicles, including electric vehicle models.
- Joint Interview Opens With a Focus on Industrial Cooperation and Electric Vehicle Development
At the Geely automobile plant in the Sixth of October City, machines hummed inside the workshop and production lines moved in an orderly manner. Workers skillfully carried out body assembly, interior installation, and powertrain assembly. Step by step, a complete vehicle began to take shape. The scene offered reporters a direct view of how local assembly, technical training, and modern production methods are being combined in Egypt’s automotive sector.
Jin Mingjie, general manager of Geely Egypt, introduced the project to the visiting journalists. He said the plant is Geely’s first complete knock-down assembly factory in the Middle East and Africa. The project was completed in December 2024 and is equipped with two production lines, with a designed annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles. At present, the factory can assemble about 700 vehicles per month, and the local content rate of components exceeds 45 percent.
The factory introduced laser welding technology and industrial robots to Egypt for the first time, improving the automation level and manufacturing precision of the production process. On the electronic display of the laser welding machine, a robotic arm moved precisely along a preset path while a laser beam quickly acted on the welding parts of the vehicle body, completing high-precision welding work. Egyptian journalists at the site took photographs and recorded the process, saying that the technology was advanced and would certainly help raise the automation level of automobile production.
Zakaria, general manager of the Geely Egypt plant, said Egypt has market scale and demographic advantages, while Chinese enterprises have brought leading automobile manufacturing technology and efficient production concepts. The two sides complement each other, he said, and cooperation with Chinese enterprises marks a solid step forward in the localization of Egypt’s automotive industry. The remarks underlined a central theme of the joint interview: local production, technology transfer, and industrial capacity building are becoming increasingly important as Egypt seeks to expand its automotive base and meet demand for modern vehicles, including electric vehicle models.
The plant has created more than 500 local jobs and has trained a group of technical talent in automobile manufacturing through production practice. Gamal, an Egyptian employee responsible for assembly supervision in the workshop, said that working side by side with Chinese colleagues allowed him not only to master advanced technology and innovative ideas but also to learn refined management methods and a craftsmanship spirit of striving for excellence.
- Factory Data Shows Localization, Capacity, and Workforce Development
The information shared during the factory visit provided a clear picture of the project’s current scale and its contribution to local industrial development. Reporters were able to compare the designed capacity with current monthly output, observe the role of local component sourcing, and hear how Egyptian workers are acquiring new skills on modern production lines. The data also helped explain why the project is viewed as an important step in Egypt’s automotive localization efforts and why electric vehicle cooperation is attracting attention among Egyptian media and consumers.
| Area | Details Reported During the Joint Interview |
|---|---|
| Plant location | Sixth of October City, Egypt |
| Plant type | Geely’s first complete knock-down assembly factory in the Middle East and Africa |
| Project completion | December 2024 |
| Production lines | Two production lines |
| Designed annual capacity | 20,000 vehicles |
| Current monthly assembly | About 700 vehicles |
| Local component rate | More than 45 percent |
| Technology introduced | Laser welding technology and industrial robots |
| Local employment | More than 500 jobs created |
| Workforce development | Technical talent trained through production practice |
| Electric vehicle relevance | The showroom visit focused on electric vehicle models and consumer interest in electric vehicle adoption |
| Media participation | Nearly 30 Chinese and Egyptian journalists joined the joint interview |
| Future cooperation coverage | More than 10 Egyptian media outlets, scholars, and self-media bloggers are expected to join deeper reporting on industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, trade, education, and cultural exchanges |
- Electric Vehicle Showroom Visit Highlights Consumer Interest and Market Demand
After visiting the factory, the reporters went to a Geely new energy vehicle showroom in New Cairo. The showroom attracted many consumers who came to ask about purchasing vehicles. The visit placed the electric vehicle story at the center of the joint interview, as reporters observed how electric vehicle models are presented to Egyptian customers and how consumers respond to the options available in the market.
Fatima, a senior editor at an Egyptian newspaper, took a ride in a Geely new energy vehicle and said the ride was smooth and comfortable. She said her family owns a Geely vehicle, and the interview made her even more determined to remain a loyal user of Chinese automobiles. Her comments reflected a broader point emphasized during the showroom visit: consumer experience with electric vehicle technology and Chinese-brand vehicles is becoming an important part of the China-Egypt cooperation narrative.
Maria, a Cairo resident, had just completed purchase procedures with her three children and was preparing to drive her new vehicle home. The children gathered around the car and could hardly hide their excitement. Maria said the vehicle was reasonably priced and spacious, making family travel more convenient in the future. Her experience illustrated how electric vehicle and new energy vehicle options are entering the daily lives of Egyptian families and how practical considerations such as price, space, and convenience shape consumer choices.
Sawi, an Egyptian expert on China who joined the joint interview, said his son bought a Chinese electric vehicle and found it very easy to use, and his son’s friends followed suit. Speaking about the growing popularity of Chinese electric vehicles in Egypt, Sawi said Chinese automobiles have advanced technology, are easy to operate, and are affordable. Egypt has strong demand for electric vehicles, he said, and he hopes China will increase support for Egypt’s electric vehicle industry. His remarks connected consumer interest in electric vehicle models with the broader industrial cooperation agenda discussed at the factory.
The showroom visit also gave reporters a chance to hear how Egyptian consumers compare electric vehicle options, how they evaluate charging and daily use, and how they view the role of Chinese brands in the local market. Although the joint interview did not present sales figures for electric vehicle models, the presence of consumers, the completion of purchase procedures, and the comments of buyers and experts all pointed to active interest in electric vehicle products and new energy vehicle technology.
- Media Coverage Begins in the Field and Extends Across Platforms
Even as the day’s interview continued, Ashraf, editor-in-chief of an Egyptian foreign news website, wrote a report in Arabic and English whose title described the joint interview as building a bridge for Egypt-China cooperation. He said the story of Egypt-China cooperation is very exciting and that he could not wait to write it. He noted that Belt and Road cooperation is concretely helping Egypt advance its industrialization process.
Ashraf said the significance of the joint interview lies in bringing media professionals to project sites so they can see the results of cooperation between the two countries with their own eyes and tell the real story to the public. This, he said, once again proves that media can be participants and promoters of cooperation and can build a bridge between countries toward the future. His early filing showed how the electric vehicle and automotive localization story was already moving from the factory floor and showroom to news platforms in both countries.
The joint interview is expected to continue in the coming days. Chinese and Egyptian media, including more than 10 Egyptian outlets such as newspapers, a news agency, television channels, an online platform, and a magazine, as well as Egyptian scholars and self-media bloggers, will conduct deeper reporting on key cooperation projects in industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, trade, education, and cultural exchanges. The aim is to observe how China-Egypt practical cooperation is changing local economic and social development and people’s daily lives, and to tell the story of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries.
- Localization, Technology, and Electric Vehicle Demand Form a Connected Story
The joint interview presented the Egyptian automotive story as a connected chain of production, skills, technology, and consumer demand. At the factory, reporters saw how vehicle bodies are assembled, how interiors are installed, and how powertrain systems are put together. They heard about the plant’s designed annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles, its current monthly assembly of about 700 vehicles, and its local component rate of more than 45 percent. They also saw laser welding equipment and industrial robots in operation, and they spoke with Egyptian workers who described the skills and management methods they have learned through cooperation with Chinese colleagues.
At the showroom, the focus shifted to the consumer side of the same story. Egyptian buyers examined new energy vehicle models, discussed family needs, and shared their impressions of comfort, space, and price. The electric vehicle theme emerged clearly in these conversations. For Egyptian consumers, the electric vehicle is not an abstract industrial category but a practical option linked to family travel, operating convenience, and affordability. For Egyptian media, the electric vehicle market is a subject that connects technology, industrial policy, consumer behavior, and China-Egypt cooperation.
The factory’s local employment impact also formed part of the electric vehicle and automotive localization story. More than 500 jobs have been created, and workers are receiving training through production practice. Gamal’s account of learning advanced technology, innovative ideas, refined management, and a craftsmanship spirit showed how cooperation can transfer knowledge through daily work. Such workforce development is important for Egypt’s automotive industry as it seeks to deepen localization and expand its capabilities in modern vehicle manufacturing, including electric vehicle production and related technologies.
Zakaria’s comment that Egypt has market scale and demographic advantages while Chinese enterprises bring leading automobile manufacturing technology and efficient production concepts captured the logic of complementarity. The joint interview did not present the relationship as one-sided. Instead, it showed a process in which local production, local employment, local component sourcing, and local skills development are combined with Chinese manufacturing experience and advanced equipment. The electric vehicle dimension adds another layer to this complementarity, because electric vehicle demand is growing and because electric vehicle technology requires both industrial capacity and consumer acceptance.
- Egyptian Journalists Observe Change Through Direct Reporting
The presence of nearly 30 Chinese and Egyptian journalists at the factory and showroom gave the joint interview a cross-border reporting dimension. Egyptian journalists photographed laser welding machines, interviewed managers and workers, and spoke with consumers. They observed the production process from body assembly to interior installation and powertrain assembly. They also visited a sales site where consumers were actively inquiring about vehicles and completing purchase procedures.
For the Egyptian reporters, the visit provided material for stories about industrial localization, job creation, technology transfer, and consumer experience. For the Chinese reporters, the visit offered a view of how Chinese enterprises are operating in Egypt and how their products and production methods are being received. The electric vehicle theme appeared in both sets of reporting interests: Egyptian journalists wanted to know how electric vehicle models fit local demand, while Chinese journalists observed how electric vehicle cooperation can support Egypt’s industrial development goals.
The joint interview also reflected a wider trend in China-Egypt media cooperation. By traveling together to project sites, journalists from the two countries can compare notes, share observations, and report from the same locations. This approach can reduce distance between policy language and lived experience. Instead of discussing cooperation only in general terms, reporters can describe what happens inside a workshop, what workers learn on the line, what managers say about localization, and what consumers think when they sit in a new vehicle, including an electric vehicle.
The early report by Ashraf demonstrated how quickly field reporting can move to publication. His article described the joint interview as building a bridge for Egypt-China cooperation and emphasized that Belt and Road cooperation is helping Egypt advance industrialization. The title and timing of his report showed that the electric vehicle and automotive localization story has immediate news value and that media professionals see themselves as participants in cooperation, not merely observers.
- Electric Vehicle Cooperation Remains Central to the Next Phase of Coverage
The next phase of the joint interview is expected to cover industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, trade, education, and cultural exchanges. Within industrial manufacturing, the automotive sector and the electric vehicle sector are likely to remain important subjects because they combine investment, technology, employment, skills, and consumer demand. The factory visit showed how local assembly and component localization are progressing. The showroom visit showed how electric vehicle models and new energy vehicle options are being introduced to Egyptian consumers.
The electric vehicle story also connects to Egypt’s broader development priorities. Localization of the automotive industry can create jobs, build technical skills, and deepen industrial capacity. Electric vehicle development can support demand for cleaner transport and new technology. Chinese enterprises can contribute manufacturing experience, equipment, and production methods, while Egyptian partners can contribute market knowledge, local labor, and a growing consumer base. The joint interview presented these elements as mutually reinforcing rather than separate.
At the factory, the electric vehicle theme was linked to production technology and workforce development. At the showroom, the electric vehicle theme was linked to consumer experience and market demand. In media coverage, the electric vehicle theme was linked to the larger story of China-Egypt cooperation under the Belt and Road framework. This layered presentation gave the joint interview a practical focus: it showed how electric vehicle cooperation is rooted in factories, jobs, skills, showrooms, and family decisions.
The comments of Egyptian consumers added a human dimension to the electric vehicle story. Fatima described a smooth and comfortable ride and said her family already owns a Geely vehicle. Maria emphasized reasonable price and spaciousness as she prepared to take her new car home with her children. Sawi described his son’s positive experience with a Chinese electric vehicle and said friends followed suit. These accounts do not replace market data, but they help explain why electric vehicle interest is growing and why Chinese brands are attracting attention in Egypt.
- A Practical Narrative of Localization and Mutual Benefit
The joint interview avoided presenting cooperation as a slogan. Instead, it offered a practical narrative built around specific sites and specific people. The factory has two production lines, a designed annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles, current monthly assembly of about 700 vehicles, and a local component rate of more than 45 percent. It has created more than 500 jobs. It has introduced laser welding technology and industrial robots. Workers such as Gamal described learning advanced technology and refined management. Managers such as Jin Mingjie and Zakaria explained the project’s scale, technology, and localization logic.
The showroom added the consumer perspective. Fatima, Maria, and Sawi spoke about comfort, price, space, convenience, and family use. Their comments showed that the electric vehicle and new energy vehicle discussion is not limited to industrial policy. It also involves daily life, household decisions, and personal experience. For media covering China-Egypt cooperation, this combination of factory data and consumer voices provides a fuller picture than either site alone.
The media dimension completed the narrative. Nearly 30 journalists took part. More than 10 Egyptian media outlets, scholars, and self-media bloggers are expected to join deeper reporting in the coming days. Ashraf filed an early report in Arabic and English. He said the Egypt-China cooperation story is exciting and that Belt and Road cooperation is concretely helping Egypt advance industrialization. He also said media can be participants and promoters of cooperation and can build a bridge toward the future.
This combination of production, consumption, and reporting explains why the joint interview described the project as a solid step in the localization of Egypt’s automotive industry. The step is solid because it is grounded in equipment, jobs, training, local components, and consumer demand. It is also solid because it is being documented by journalists from both countries who can share what they see with wider audiences. The electric vehicle theme runs through this documentation as a symbol of technological change, market demand, and future-oriented cooperation.
- Conclusion: A Field-Based Story With Clear Implications for Electric Vehicle Cooperation
The China-Egypt media joint interview in the Sixth of October City and New Cairo offered a field-based account of how automotive localization and electric vehicle cooperation are developing in Egypt. At the factory, reporters saw two production lines, laser welding technology, industrial robots, and workers assembling vehicles. They heard about a designed annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles, monthly assembly of about 700 vehicles, a local component rate of more than 45 percent, and more than 500 local jobs. At the showroom, they saw consumers inquiring about vehicles, completing purchase procedures, and describing their experiences with Chinese-brand vehicles and electric vehicle models.
The joint interview also showed how media cooperation can support the larger China-Egypt relationship. With nearly 30 journalists participating and more than 10 Egyptian media outlets, scholars, and self-media bloggers expected to join deeper reporting, the initiative is designed to bring project sites, industrial cooperation, trade, education, and cultural exchanges into public view. The early report by Ashraf, written in Arabic and English, demonstrated that the story has immediate value and that media professionals see themselves as participants in cooperation.
For Egypt’s automotive industry, the message is one of gradual but concrete localization. For Chinese enterprises, the message is one of long-term engagement through production, training, and technology. For Egyptian consumers, the message is one of expanding options, including electric vehicle options that combine technology, convenience, and affordability. For media, the message is one of direct observation: going to the factory floor, visiting the showroom, speaking with workers and buyers, and reporting what is actually happening.
The electric vehicle story will remain important as Egypt continues to develop its automotive sector and as China-Egypt cooperation expands into new areas. The joint interview did not rely on speculation. It relied on what reporters saw, heard, and recorded at two sites: a factory where vehicles are assembled and a showroom where consumers consider their next purchase. That field-based approach gave the electric vehicle narrative a concrete foundation and connected industrial localization with the daily choices of Egyptian families.
The visit concluded with a clear sense that the next phase of coverage will build on the same themes. Industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, trade, education, and cultural exchanges will be examined in greater depth. Within that broader agenda, the automotive factory and the electric vehicle showroom will remain reference points because they show how cooperation can move from agreements to assembly lines, from assembly lines to jobs and skills, and from showrooms to family decisions. The joint interview thus presented a practical and forward-looking account of China-Egypt cooperation, with electric vehicle development as one of its most visible and relevant dimensions.