Egypt and Asian countries have maintained time-honored relations based on their struggle in the 1950s and 1960s against foreign imperialism.

 

Such strong ties between the two sides were manifested in the establishment of the non-alignment movement (NAM), masterminded by late president Gamal Abdul Nasser along with Indian prime minister Jawaher Nehru and Broz Tito of Yugoslavia to fight against the ideological confrontation between the East and West.

 

But since the end of the Cold War, ties between the two sides have grown cold. However, Egypt and the Asian countries spared no effort to enhance their mutual relations, which bore fruits in establishing the G-15 as a bid to promote the Egyptian-Asian economic cooperation.

 

With the set up of the G-15, a new era of economic cooperation between Egypt and Asia shinned in the horizon, which reflected in having Asia ranking third as Egypt's trade partner after the European Union and the United States.