Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 14, 2002
China Attaches Great Importance to Mubarak's Coming Visit: Ambassador
China attaches great importance to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's upcoming visit and has done a good deal to ensure its success, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liu Xiaoming said Sunday in Cairo. His coming visit would be of great significance to consolidate friendships between China and Egypt, promote bilateral relations, maintain regional and global peace and stability and push forward common prosperity of developing countries.
Right now, the momentum of developing Sino-Egyptian relations is good and the two countries have made continued progress in carrying out cooperation in all various fields," said Liu at a news conference held here.
"The Sino-Egyptian Strategic and Cooperative Relations, which the presidents of the two countries decided to forge in 1999, have been deepened increasingly. In politics, China and Egypt have maintained contacts and consultations at various levels and through various channels," Liu said.
Identical Views and Stances
Both sides have identical views and stances in many significant issues regarding bilateral relations, regional and global situations and have carried out fruitful cooperation, Liu said, adding that such coordination and cooperation have been enhanced especially after the September 11 terror attacks on the United States.
Mubarak Meets Tang Jiaxuan in 2001
He cited phone talks between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Egyptian President Mubarak to discuss anti-terrorist issues and reach wide consensus, as well as Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan's visit to Egypt at the end of last year to promote bilateral relations.
Bilateral Trade Grows
Trade between China and Egypt have been kept a growth momentum as the total volume of bilateral trade reached 800 million U.S. dollars in the first 10 months of 2001, up by 4 percent compared to the same period of 2000, Liu said.
He said that both sides are actively exploring new ways of expanding trade and economic cooperation, adding that the two countries are also increasing contacts and cooperation in the fields of military, science, culture and education.
Mubarak's Visit of Great Significance
President Mubarak's scheduled visit comes within the context of flourishing developments of Sino-Egyptian relations, Liu said, stressing that regular meetings between the two leaders would be of great significance to consolidate friendships between China and Egypt, promote bilateral relations, maintain regional and global peace and stability and push forward common prosperity of developing countries.
Mubarak will head to Beijing on January 23 on his eighth official visit to China.
China and Egypt
Political Exchanges
China and Egypt established diplomatic relations on May 30,1956. And the relationship between the two countries has been developing very smoothly. In the sixties, Premier Zhou Enlai visited Egypt three times. After that, President Li Xiannian, President Yang Shangkun, Premier Li Peng, Chairman of CPPCC Li Ruihuan, Vice Premier Zhu Rongji, Chairman of NPC Qiao Shi, President Jiang Zeming, Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, etc. have visited Egypt one after another.
From the Egyptian side, President Mubarak (seven times), Premier Gan Zoury, Speaker of People's Assembly Souour, etc. visited China. In April 1999,when Egyptian President Mubarak was visiting China, he signed a joint communique with Chinese President Jiang Zeming on establishing strategic cooperative relationship between Egypt and China.
Economic Exchanges
The two sides have signed several agreements concerning trade, investment protection, avoidance of double taxation, etc., and a joint committee on trade and economic cooperation has had three meetings. Besides, the two countries have cooperated for mutual benefits in the fields like economic technology, labor contracting, etc. China has built many projects such as Cairo International Conference Center for Egypt.
In 1999, Sino-Egyptian trade volume reached USD750.22 million, of which China's exports to Egypt were USD715.875 million and imports from Egypt USD34.363 million.
Cultural Exchanges
China and Egypt signed an official agreement on cultural cooperation in 1956.Now six implementation plans of cultural exchanges have been signed. China has attended almost every Cairo International Book Exhibition and International Movie Festival. On Dec.1995, China signed with Egypt a memorandum of understanding on the two countries' educational cooperation. Since 1972,China has sent sports coaches to Egypt.