China and Egypt agreed to strengthen cooperation in the peaceful
use of nuclear energy, according to a joint communiqué released
yesterday in Beijing.
The document does not give any details, but earlier reports said
that Cairo in late September announced it was relaunching its civil
nuclear program after a suspension of 20 years following the
Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit reportedly said that
Egypt talked about the possible help China would give to Egypt over
its civilian nuclear program.
Increased cooperation in agriculture, science and technology,
finance, tourism, environment, medical treatment, energy, aerospace
technology, information and telecommunications were also
highlighted in the document.
President Hu Jintao held a welcoming ceremony for visiting
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Great Hall of the People
and then the two held a closed-door meeting.
Mubarak, who has visited China nine times, is described by Hu as
a "close friend of China," and the two leaders agreed to
consolidate political ties, expand economic and trade relations and
increase exchanges in the cultural sector.
Egypt was the first country in Africa and the Arab world to
recognize China and the two countries this year celebrate their
50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. Mubarak
visited China to take part in the Beijing Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation. The next ministerial-level forum will be
held in Egypt.
The two countries signed four agreements yesterday, covering
economic, technological, public health and investment fields.
President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao visited Egypt in January
2004 and in June 2006 respectively. Bilateral trade hit US$2.145
billion last year, up 36.1 percent over the previous year.
In the joint communiqué, Egypt reiterates its one-China policy
and opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form.
On the issues in the Middle East, the two countries agreed that
they should strive for peace on the basis of international law,
relevant UN resolutions, the "land-for-peace" principle and the
Arab peace initiative. The two sides condemned all forms of
terrorism and are dedicated to enhancing existing co-operation in
anti-terrorism.
They expressed grave concerns over the nuclear test conducted by
North Korea and the escalation of the situation in the Korean
Peninsular. They hoped all relevant parties could resolve the
problem through "rational and peaceful means," and avoid use of
force in order to ensure a nuclear-free peninsular.
China and Egypt support the reform of the UN so as to enable it
to better deal with new challenges in the world, including the
reform measures of expanding UN Security Council by absorbing more
developing countries, especially African countries.
Hu yesterday also held separate meetings with Burundian
President Pierre Nkurunziza, Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and
Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa.
China will support the Somali interim government's efforts to
seek peace and reconstruction, urging the UN Security Council to
grant it more support and assistance, said Hu in the meeting with
Yusuf.
China and Burundi have deep traditional friendship, and should
enhance cooperation in investment, infrastructure,
telecommunications and agriculture, said Hu in the meeting with
Nkurunziza.
He told Zambian President Mwanawasa that China will further
strengthen ties with Zambia and actively implement the co-operation
projects between the two countries.
(China Daily November 8, 2006)
