President Xi Jinping has said the Chinese government encourages and supports qualified enterprises to participate in large-scale projects in Egypt.

He made the remarks as he met with Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail in Cairo. Xi said his visit is to deepen the China-Egypt relationship all-round, and to advance practical cooperation between two sides.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail in Cairo, Egypt, January 20, 2016. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo Wednesday for a state visit to Egypt, the second leg of his three-nation Middle East tour. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

Ismail said Egypt supports the Belt and Road Initiative and will play an active role within the framework, becoming a corridor connecting trade between China and Europe.

After the meeting, Xi and Ismail visited a China Science and Technology Exhibition, in which 15 Chinese enterprises participated.