Through combined effort, the strategic cooperation between China and Egypt will expand in the new century, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said on Thursday in Beijing.
Zhu made the remarks when meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who arrived here Wednesday on a state visit to China.
Mubarak, an old friend of three generations of Chinese leaders, has made important contributions to Sino-Egypt and Sino-Arab friendship, said Zhu, noting that Mubarak's previous meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin was "fruitful."
Since the 1950's, Zhu said, Egypt has made great achievements in economic development as well as in safeguarding national sovereignty and independence.
As a major Arabic and African country, Egypt has contributed significantly to the peace and stability of the Middle East and the world at large, Zhu said.
"China speaks highly of Egypt's foreign policy of independence and non-alliance and supports the constructive role of Egypt in the Middle East and international affairs."
Despite twists and turns in the international arena, Zhu said, China and Egypt always understand and support each other.
As major developing countries, he said, both China and Egypt face the tasks of defending national independence and developing their national economy. The two countries can learn from each other, especially in the field of economic reform, he said.
In recent years, trade and economic cooperation between the two have been developing rapidly, and there is still huge potential in tourism and investment, said Zhu, expressing China's willingness to further tap these potentials.
The two countries enjoy bright prospects in further cooperation, and in a bid to promote trade and economic ties both sides should explore new ways of cooperation in line with respective national conditions, Zhu said.
Mubarak said his three meetings with Premier Zhu in recent years have demonstrated the good relations between the two countries.
Both with a long history, the two countries share much common ground, he said.
He expressed his belief that the Egypt-China business council, established several hours ago, will surely push forward the two countries' cooperation in investment and trade.
Mubarak invited Zhu to visit Egypt again.
( January 25, 2002)
