Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday that China and Egypt, as important countries of the Global South, should further strengthen strategic coordination to safeguard their common interests.

He made the remarks after landing in Cairo for a two-day official visit to Egypt. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly and senior government officials welcomed Li at Cairo International Airport and held a welcoming ceremony in his honor.

Li said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, China-Egypt relations have flourished, with enduring traditional friendship, deepening political mutual trust, fruitful pragmatic cooperation and strong multilateral collaboration.

Together, the two countries have set a model for solidarity, unity, self-reliance, mutual benefit and mutual support among major developing countries, he said.

Li also said that China is willing to work with Egypt to deepen cooperation in all areas, continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, inject strong momentum into their respective development and national rejuvenation, and contribute actively to regional and global peace and stability.

Liao Liqiang, Chinese ambassador to Egypt, described the two countries in a signed article as mutually beneficial partners, ever-closer friends and like-minded brothers.

Egypt was the first Arab and African nation to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1956.

Statistics show that China has been Egypt's largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years and is Egypt's largest source of imports and a major source of investment.

The China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, a flagship project of Belt and Road cooperation, has attracted over 180 enterprises, resulting in total investment of around $3 billion and directly providing jobs for nearly 10,000 people.

Li's visit to Egypt came after he attended the 17th BRICS Summit, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday and Monday.

Before wrapping up the Brazil visit, Li held talks with representatives of Chinese enterprises on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Li said that the Chinese economy is capable of withstanding any external shocks and achieving long-term stable growth, and serves as a strong backbone for the development of overseas Chinese enterprises.

He said that in recent years, Chinese enterprises have accelerated their pace of going global and improved their capabilities for international operations, playing an increasingly important role in boosting the domestic economy.

Li called on Chinese enterprises in Brazil to further tap into local markets, provide more products and services that meet market demand and expand their presence in the Latin American market.

On Tuesday, Li also met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Rio.

Li told the UN chief that as the world is facing more instability and uncertainty, China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with the world body to jointly promote a more just and equitable international order.

Guterres said he appreciates China's role as a longtime advocate of multilateralism and a staunch supporter of the UN.