Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee
of China's National People's Congress (NPC), on Monday in Cairo
highlighted the importance of the Sino-Egyptian strategic,
cooperative relations, while calling for sustainable development of
the bilateral ties.
Wu voiced the Chinese stance during his talks with Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak at the Presidential Palace earlier in the
day.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing
Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), delivers a
speech at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FCAC) in Cairo,
capital of Egypt, May 21, 2007.
Wu said that Egypt, the first Arab and African country that
recognized the People's Republic of China, plays a special role in
the external affairs of the Chinese government, with the exchange
of visits of presidents of the two countries enhancing the
Sino-Egyptian relations to a new level.
China is willing to work with Egypt together to keep the trend
of high-level exchange of visits from the strategic viewpoints,
strengthen the exchange and cooperation of the governments,
parliaments and political parties of both countries, he said.
China also wants to make closer coordination and cooperation on
regional and international affairs with Egypt, and enhance the
practical cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, tourism and
mutual investments, as well as expand the exchanges in cultural,
scientific and educational sectors, Wu said.
For his part, Mubarak agreed with Wu on the evaluation and
suggestion on the bilateral ties and expressed his appreciation of
the traditional friendship of the two countries.
"Deep and profound friendship has been made between Chinese
leaders of several generations and myself, while the friendly
cooperation of the two countries develops smoothly," Mubarak
said.
Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing
Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, capital of Egypt, May
21, 2007.
He expressed Egypt's admiration toward China's rapid
development, noting that Egypt is attaching great importance to
developing and deepening the strategic and cooperative relations
between the two sides.
With mutual efforts of the two countries, bilateral relations
are believed to achieve great development and benefit the people of
two countries, Mubarak added.
He also highlighted the importance of Beijing Summit of the
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and China's efforts to actively
implement the eight steps of assistance announced by Chinese
President Hu Jintao at the Summit.
Egypt will stick to active coordinating with China to promoting
the development of the relations between Africa and China, the
president said.
Meanwhile, Wu said China attaches great importance to Africa all
the time, while strengthening unity and cooperation with Africa is
cornerstone of China's independent foreign policy of peace.
He pointed out that the success of the Summit has opened a new
era in Sino-African relations, adding that China spare no efforts
to implement the fruits of the Summit.
The two sides also discussed the latest development of the
Mideast regional issues and efforts to promote peace of the
Palestinian issue, hailing Egypt's role in keeping regional peace
and stability.
Ragdi, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of China's NPC
and Egyptian People's Assembly Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour attended
the meeting.
Wu, who is currently on a four-day visit in Egypt, is also
scheduled to sign with Sorour a memorandum on the establishment of
a regular exchange mechanism between the two parliaments.
Egypt is the first leg of Wu's three-nation tour to Africa and
Europe, which will also take him to Hungary and Poland.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2007)
