People receive food boxes from Chinese companies in Cairo, Egypt, on May 20, 2019. Chinese companies operating in Egypt delivered on Monday hundreds of food boxes to the poor and held a charity banquet in the capital Cairo, sharing the joy of the Egyptians during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)
by Ahmed Shafiq, Li Binian
CAIRO, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies operating in Egypt delivered on Monday hundreds of food boxes to the poor and held a charity banquet in the capital Cairo, sharing the joy of the Egyptians during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
"I have been to this banquet for three years now ... I also received a food box that can help me feed my five children for at least two weeks," Ibtissam Abdullah, a 45-year-old widow, told Xinhua as she waited for her turn to receive the food box.
The woman, who has been working as a housekeeper for six years since her husband passed away, said it is a generous gesture of the Chinese companies in Egypt which sympathize with the sufferings of poor Egyptians.
"In addition to a good meal, they also provide us with food boxes that contain cooking oil bottles, rice, sugar and tea," she said happily.
The event was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Chinese-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in Egypt in cooperation with the local nongovernmental organizations.
Bian Shiyuan, chairman of the Chinese-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, said this was the fifth event his organization has held in cooperation with the Egyptian Society For Integrated Development in Cairo, a non-profit organization specialized in fighting poverty.
"The event will last 15 days and each day, we prepare 300 meals for Egyptian people. Our member companies have also donated 1,790 gift boxes worth 600,000 Egyptian pounds (35,253 U.S. dollars). Each box includes oil, spaghetti and other food. We also plan to hold this event in Giza, Fayum, Beni Suef and Aswan," he said.
Bian pointed out that member companies of the chamber are now more and more involved in this event.
"These years, we have seen a gradual increase in the number of participating companies and the quantity of donation," he said, adding this shows the Chinese companies not only participate in the economic and social development of Egypt, but also actively fulfill their social responsibilities and integrate into the local communities.
"From the past experience, this event has been warmly welcomed by the local people," Bian noted.
Egypt was the first Arab and African country that established official ties with the People's Republic of China, and the two countries recently elevated their relations to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership.
"We love China and its people ... We have similar cultures and values," Fawzi Abul-Azim, a retired civil servant, told Xinhua during the event.
"The Chinese companies help those who are really in need. They do not have to do this, but their human values make them help us," he said.
The food box came on time as his retirement salary is barely enough to feed his family, the father of four girls added.
Such charitable activities show Chinese business owners have become an authentic part of the Egyptian social fabric, Abul-Azim noted.
For Muslims, Ramadan, a celebratory religious occasion during which they abstain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn to dusk, serves to consolidate social unity.
"I'm so thankful to the Chinese people who really help us willingly ... China worked hard to eradicate poverty back home. They are doing their best to fight poverty all over the world now," Abul-Azim said.
