Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly delivered a powerful and wide-ranging address at the SCO Plus Summit on Monday, representing President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in the high-level gathering hosted by China. His speech underscored Egypt’s positions on pressing global challenges from the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza to global climate and water security, while reaffirming Cairo’s commitment to multilateralism and regional cooperation.
The summit, held in the Chinese city of Tianjin, marked the first expanded-format meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO Plus), bringing together leaders from member states, dialogue partners, and invited countries to discuss security, development, and global governance.
Gaza Crisis: From Conflict to Catastrophe
Opening his remarks, Madbouly expressed Egypt’s deep concern over the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, describing the war as having “moved far beyond any legitimate political objectives or hostage-related goals.” He asserted that the conflict has morphed into a campaign of collective punishment targeting an entire population.
“The Palestinian people are facing all forms of killing, terror, starvation, and egregious violations of their rights,” Madbouly said, highlighting that the civilian death toll has approached 60,000, with nearly 120,000 others injured.
Condemning the widening scope of Israeli military activity in Gaza and the West Bank, Madbouly accused Israel of attempting to render Gaza uninhabitable in a bid to forcibly displace Palestinians. He also condemned settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, warning that these actions are designed to dismantle any prospects for a two-state solution.
Call for Ceasefire and a Political Path Forward
Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt’s intensive diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, working in coordination with regional and international partners. He stressed the urgent need for Israel to accept a temporary ceasefire proposal that would allow for negotiations on ending the war and initiating Gaza’s reconstruction, in line with the Arab-Islamic peace plan.
“Egypt believes that the only viable solution is the establishment of a unified Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said. “This remains the only path toward a just, comprehensive peace that can restore stability to the region and beyond.”
Reforming the Global Order
The Egyptian Prime Minister used the forum to call for sweeping reforms in the international system. He warned that the credibility of the current multilateral order is under severe strain, facing interconnected, transnational crises that no country can confront alone.
“Today’s summit is convening at a moment of unprecedented global uncertainty,” Madbouly said, pointing to conflicts, climate change, food insecurity, and economic volatility. He praised the SCO’s foundational values mutual trust, equality, and respect for cultural diversity, as critical principles in navigating this turbulent era.
He also voiced Egypt’s support for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s initiatives aimed at restructuring global governance and making international institutions more equitable. Madbouly called for a more inclusive and balanced international system based on international law, with the United Nations playing a stronger central role.
Global Financial and Climate Responsibility
Addressing economic challenges, Madbouly advocated for radical reform of the global financial system and international lending institutions. He emphasized the urgent need to provide developing nations with concessional financing, restructure unsustainable debt, and increase the capacity of multilateral development banks.
On climate issues, the Prime Minister stressed the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” particularly in addressing the climate crisis and managing scarce natural resources.
He linked climate resilience and development progress directly to international cooperation in finance and technology. “Raising ambition on climate action must be matched with sufficient support financially and technologically, while respecting national ownership of development strategies,” he said.
Water Security and Shared Resources: Egypt’s Perspective
Turning to one of Egypt’s most pressing concerns water security, Madbouly addressed the challenges facing transboundary water management, especially in light of ongoing tensions surrounding the Nile River.
“Egypt is a populous country living in a desert environment, almost entirely dependent on the Nile River for its renewable water resources,” he noted. “Cooperation among Nile Basin countries remains the cornerstone of our approach to managing this vital shared resource.”
He reiterated Egypt’s call for equitable and reasonable utilization of international rivers, grounded in international law and aimed at preventing significant harm to any riparian state.
His comments come amid long-standing regional tensions over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam project, with Egypt concerned about its impact on downstream water availability.
Technology and Sustainable Development
Madbouly also underscored the importance of advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), as key drivers of sustainable development. However, he cautioned that their use must be governed by ethical standards and equitable access.
“AI should serve all of humanity. It is crucial that developing countries are not left behind as the world races toward a digitally-driven future,” he said, urging enhanced international cooperation to support capacity building and ensure fair access to emerging technologies.
A Closing Note of Solidarity and Hope
In closing, Prime Minister Madbouly expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the SCO Plus format as a platform to foster cooperation among like-minded nations and expand avenues for joint action. He extended his best wishes to the new rotating presidency of the SCO, held by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to contribute to future initiatives.
“As the world stands at a critical crossroads,” Madbouly concluded, “we must choose solidarity over division, justice over power, and cooperation over confrontation. The challenges are great, but with unity and mutual respect, we can chart a better path forward.”
