by Ahmed Shafiq

CAIRO, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The adoption of the principle of benefits for all through reviving the Silk Road makes China a main engine of the world economy, an Egyptian expert in Chinese affairs said.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative "will change the economic map of the world as the number of countries supporting the Chinese initiative reached some 126 countries so far," Samy Kamhawy, an expert in Chinese affairs from Egypt's largest daily newspaper Al-Ahram, told Xinhua.

The big number of the countries that participated in last month's second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing proves the success of China's economic plans, Kamhawy said.

The value of the agreements signed during the forum went beyond 64 billion U.S. dollars, he stressed.

The world is developing very dramatically, Kamhawy noted, adding that limiting economic activities is no longer appropriate nowadays.

"The more open countries will ultimately be the winners," the expert pointed out. "China's economy is very lively as a result of this openness, which China insists on maintaining."

"I believe that the most important factors that China should maintain to achieve stable development are continuing to open up to other countries, go on with win-win cooperation as well as help countries achieve development that will ensure better living standards for peoples."

"China's contribution to the growth of the world economy is the highest among the major countries because of the diversity and vitality of the Chinese economy and its openness to other economies," the expert said.

China's opening-up will certainly help strengthen cooperation between Egypt and China, as Egypt seeks to modernize industry in many fields, such as textile, irrigation technology and agriculture, the Egyptian expert said.

China has modern technology in such fields, which is a great opportunity for Egyptian-Chinese cooperation, Kamhawy said.

Kamhawy said Egypt is also seeking to use modern technology, such as in the electric car industry.

An agreement has already been signed between Egypt and China on the sidelines of the second BRF in Beijing to manufacture electric vehicles in Egypt, he said.