The pledge came after Egyptian President Mubarak met visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on Saturday at his presidential headquarters in Cairo.

Their talks focused on bilateral economic co-operation and the tension in the Middle East.

The official visit from April 19 to 23 by the premier to Egypt comes less than three months after Mubarak's eighth tour of Beijing.

China and Egypt enjoy a "special friendly relationship," and the strategic co-operative ties established in 1999 by presidents Jiang Zemin and Mubarak have paved the way for closer relations in this century, Zhu said.

Zhu told Mubarak that during his meeting earlier in the day with his counterpart, Prime Minister Atef Obeid, they had "in-depth discussions" on finding new ways of making "sustained efforts" to help realize their strategic co-operative relationship.

Mubarak called China "the most devoted friend" of Egypt and said his country attaches great importance to developing its relations with China.

Egypt is the first of Arab and African countries to recognize New China. Since their forging of diplomatic ties in 1956, Mubarak said, the two nations have maintained "very nice links" in the political, economic, cultural and educational arenas.

He paid tribute to China's achievements in economic reform, saying Egypt is eager to learn from China's successes.

The Chinese premier responded by speaking highly of the progress made by the Egyptians, under Mubarak's leadership, in maintaining social stability, developing the national economy and improving the living standard of its people.

As a major Arabic and African country, Zhu said, Egypt has contributed significantly to the peace and stability of the Middle East and the world at large as well as to the unity of Arabian and African nations.

He said China backs Egypt for playing a more positive role in the Middle East and world affairs.

The Chinese premier arrived here on Friday at Mubarak's invitation. It is the second leg of his three-nation tour. It follows his four-day trip to Turkey.

Regarding the growing conflict in the Middle East, Mubarak said that the Israeli Government's actions have aroused public indignation worldwide.

He appealed to the international community to take effective measures to force Israel to carry out United Nations (UN) resolutions, withdraw all its troops from the Palestinian territory and resume political negotiations with Palestine.

Zhu expressed his appreciation for the relentless efforts by Mubarak and the Egyptian Government to calm the regional tensions that began with Israel's long-term occupation of Arabian territory and infringement of the lawful rights of the Palestinian people.

Zhu said the Middle East conflict can be solved only through political negotiations based on the UN resolutions and the land-for-peace principles set forth at the Madrid Peace Conference.

China is keen to continue diplomatic consultations with Cairo and other Arab countries regarding a peaceful restoration of the lawful rights of the Palestinian people.

In his separate talks with Obeid also on Saturday morning, Zhu said Egypt is an "all-weather friend" of China and one of his country's most important partners in the Middle East and in Africa.

Zhu expressed his gratitude for the Egyptian Government's consistent adherence to the one-China policy and its support for China's entry into the World Trade Organization.

The two heads of governments both agreed to steadily push their increased economic co-operation forward by tapping vast potentials in various areas.

Following their talks, the two leaders oversaw the signing of three accords that aim to further boost economic, technological, educational and agricultural co-operation between the two countries.

Under the agreements, China will provide a grant of 30 million yuan (US$3.6 million) to Egypt, help set up an advanced school for teaching Chinese to Egyptians and enhance exchanges of expertise in animal husbandry and quarantine, according to officials close to the Chinese delegation.

Yesterday Zhu delivered a 15-minute speech at a luncheon organized by local business executives. He briefed an audience of 300 about China's economic progress and growth rates in recent years.

To strengthen their economic ties, Zhu said China and Egypt should expand their mutual imports and exports, encourage mutual investment, widen their co-operative areas and enhance mutual understanding and commercial contacts between the entrepreneurs of the two countries.

Zhu also met separately yesterday with Ahmed Fathi Sorour, speaker of the People's Assembly of Egypt; Mustapha Kamal Helmi, chairman of the Egypt Advisory Council; and Amr Moussa, secretary of the Arab League.

(China Daily April 22, 2002)