President Hu Jintao and Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni
Mubarak Tuesday pledged to further strengthen bilateral strategic
cooperative relations as the two countries are celebrating
50-year-old official ties.
The two leaders said they are satisfied with the great progress
of their relations over the past five decades and agreed to enhance
political relations, economic and trade cooperation and cultural
exchanges, and improve coordination in international and regional
affairs.
Calling China-Egypt relations "good example" of South-South
cooperation, Hu said Chinese and Egyptian peoples have always
supported each other and shared deep trust in the their struggle
for national sovereignty and economic development.
Hu especially extolled Mubarak's efforts in promoting to
bilateral relations, saying Mubarak, a "close friend" of the
Chinese people, who had deep friendship with several generations of
Chinese leaders, has made "outstanding" contributions to the
development of China-Egypt ties.
Mubarak arrived in China last Friday for a ninth visit to China
and for a historic Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation.
Hu also highlighted bilateral trade, saying the two should join
hands to tap economic cooperation potential, especially in fields
of telecommunications, transportation and textile.
Mubarak said the relationship between Egypt and China has
developed continuously and entered the best period in history.
Egypt attaches great importance to developing economic and trade
cooperation with China, he said, adding it is looking forward to
strengthening cooperation in the fields of investment, trade,
tourism and human resources.
On Sino-African relations, Hu said China and African countries
are sincere friends and close brothers. The Beijing Summit of the
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is a milestone in
China-Africa mutually beneficial cooperation and will have a
special impact in the history of Sino-African relationship, he
said.
Egypt is China's important strategic and cooperative partner in
the Arabian world, in the continent of Africa and in the developing
countries, Hu said, adding that China will keep close contacts with
Egypt to implement the results achieved at the Beijing Summit and
make preparations for the fourth Ministerial Meeting of FOCAC which
will be held in Egypt in 2009.
Mubarak said the Beijing Summit was a success and the
development Africa-China relationship is very important, noting
Egypt is willing to cooperate with China to push forward the
healthy development of this relationship.
Mubarak introduced the situation of Middle East and Egypt's
viewpoints on the issue.
Hu said China will always stand on the side of Arabian people,
and advocates to settle the issue through political negotiations
based on relevant UN resolutions.
China is willing to make concerted efforts with Egypt for the
early realization of peace and stability in the Middle East, Hu
added.
Mubarak arrived in Beijing on Friday for a state visit to China
and for the two-day landmark Beijing Summit which concluded on
Sunday.
(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2006)
