Egypt's People's
Assembly Speaker Ahmed Sorour on Monday highlighted Sino-Egyptian
and Sino-African relations as excellent and outstanding and
expected more bilateral cooperation.
During his talks with Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Wu Sike and an
interview with Xinhua and other Chinese media in Egypt, Sorour said
that China is a friendly country and a trustworthy friend, a great
country, with which Egypt had distinguished ties in the political,
economic and cultural domains.
He added that Egypt hold dear close relations with China and
attached great importance to such long standing relations.
As to exchanges between China's National People's Congress (NPC)
and Egypt's People's Assembly, Sorour said they reflect the
strengthening of the cooperation between the two countries'
legislative bodies.
There were many mutual visits in the parliamentary field, which
resulted in many agreements to improve mutual understanding and
political trust, said the Egyptian parliament speaker.
He expected to strengthen Egypt's relations with China in
political, parliamentary, economic and of course cultural spheres
with a strong desire and will.
He noted that he is looking forward to "talks with Chinese
executive and parliamentary leaders about bilateral issues which
concerned the two countries, so that we fulfill all the
requirements or comprehension to cooperate together."
He also expressed keenness to study the Chinese model of social
transition and the Chinese progress in all aspects, specially in
economy. He said Egypt wants to learn the Chinese experience in
development and dealing with economic problems.
He agreed that Egypt's cooperation with China is strong, but
still voiced keenness to broaden the cooperation to more field. "We
encourage this bilateral cooperation by all means."
On the issue of Sino-African cooperation, Sorour said "we hope
China makes investment in Africa to help Africa to overcome
poverty, help Africa realize the project for development."
He also expects the east, mainly spearheaded by China, to invest
in Africa and help the Africans, noting that Africa is a strong
continent, and this continent must be independent.
"The independence of the Africa or the Africans will help all
the world ... it has to be developed or its people has to cooperate
with all the world," the Egyptian parliament speaker said.
He also noted that "the presence of China in Africa is very
important for its independence, for its developments and for the
cooperation between China and Africa."
Answering a question about the current mistrust of the Chinese
products stirred by some media, Sorour showed his confidence in
"Made in China," saying he has a Chinese TV set at his office.
He defended the Chinese products by saying that it came as a
result of competitiveness with the western industrial
countries.
He also affirmed the Chinese products' important role in the
international market, noting it is the Chinese products that filled
the baskets of the low-income families.
(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2007)
