STORY: China-funded prototype satellites delivered to Egypt
DATELINE: June 27, 2023
LENGTH: 0:03:05
LOCATION: Cairo
CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the packaged flight model and two prototype satellites of the MisrSat II satellite project
2. various of the delivery ceremony
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): RANIA AL-MASHAT, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LIAO LIQIANG, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt
5. various of the AIT center
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): SHERIF SEDKY, Chief executive officer of the Egyptian Space Agency

STORYLINE:

Two China-funded prototype satellites of the MisrSat II satellite project were delivered to the Egyptian side on Sunday, making Egypt the first African country with the capacity to assemble, integrate and test satellites.
   
During the delivery ceremony held at the Egyptian Space Agency near the country's New Administrative Capital, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat thanked China for supporting and cooperating with the agency.
   
She noted that the China-funded MisrSat II satellite and satellite assembly, integration and test (AIT) center has greatly boosted Egypt's capacities in satellite research, development, measurement and control, making Egypt a leading African country in the aerospace field.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): RANIA AL-MASHAT, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation
"We thank our strategic partner and friend, China, for their support and partnership with the Egyptian Space Agency. The advanced devices and effective technology we saw today are important for Egypt as they open a gateway for cooperation with Africa in this field. This cooperation is a result of the close relations between the two countries."

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said the project has laid a solid foundation for Egypt's space industry and will promote the development of space technology on the African continent.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LIAO LIQIANG, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt
"The space cooperation between China and Egypt has achieved a milestone achievement today. It's also a landmark outcome of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Egypt."

According to the Chinese ambassador, it is the first time that China has completed a large-scale overseas test on an entire satellite and delivered a satellite cooperation project overseas.
   
Sherif Sedky, chief executive officer of the Egyptian Space Agency, said over the past three months, Egyptian and Chinese engineers and experts have joined hands to run every stage of the tests on the three models of the MisrSat II satellite, comprising two prototype models and one flight model.
   
He noted that these tests inaugurated the largest satellite AIT center in Africa and the Middle East, which was fully equipped through a grant from China.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): SHERIF SEDKY, Chief executive officer of the Egyptian Space Agency
"This center is the first of its kind to localize the satellite industry in Egypt. It also gives Egypt a leading role in transferring this technology to Africa. The MisrSat II satellite has an effective contribution to supporting the requirements of sustainable development for Egypt 2030."

After the delivery of the two prototype satellites in Cairo, an in-orbit delivery of the flight model of the MisrSat II satellite has also been scheduled.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.
(XHTV)