Mubarak Hails Smooth Development of Sino-Egyptian Ties

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday hailed the smooth development in Sino-Egyptian ties, saying that bilateral cooperation gained a momentum in various fields in the past few years.

In an interview with Xinhua, Mubarak said that the relations between the two countries are unique since they are deeply rooted in history.

These relations were further enhanced by the identical or similar views of the two countries towards many regional and international issues, he noted.

Mubarak spoke highly of the exchange of visits by senior officials of both countries, particularly regular summit meetings between him and Chinese President Jiang Zemin, which he said undoutedly gave impetus to bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Mubarak last visited Beijing on April 4, 1999, while the Chinese president visited Cairo on April 17, 2000, and Alexandria in the summer of 2000 respectively.

The Egyptian president said that he is to visit China again before the end of this year at the invitation of Jiang, and that all this reflects "our keeness to further deepen end boost relations".

In the economic and trade field, the Egyptian president said both countries are trying to facilitate the flow of commercial and trade exchanges while addressing the issue of trade imbalance.

The two governments are negotiating the possible entry of Egyptian citrus into the Chinese market, the president said, adding that his country is, among others, deeply interested in how to attract more Chinese investments.

He praised China's participation in Egypt's project of the special free-trade zone in northwestern Suez Gulf, describing China's involvement in the project as successful.

Meanwhile, negotiations are underway for more exchange of visits for the better understanding of each other's investment opportunities, and for opening more air and marine routes, he added.

The two countries also seek to activate cooperation in the social field through a Social Fund For Development, according to the president.

In agricultural cooperation, the two countries are working on a project of the Chinese-Egyptian Friendship Wood of Youth in Ismaliyia, a beautiful city near the Suez Canal, where Chinese and Egyptian experts exchange expertise in the area of fisheries and food production, he said.

Both countries are trying to promote tourism as well, with China already listing Egypt as a main destination for Chinese tourists, he added.

Mubarak also envisaged progress in scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of remote-sensing and space technology.

The two countries will hold seminars and cultural events, too, to promote mutual understanding, he added.






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