China attaches great importance to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's upcoming visit and has done a good deal to ensure its success, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liu Xiaoming said Sunday in Cairo.
His coming visit would be of great significance to consolidate friendships between China and Egypt, promote bilateral relations, maintain regional and global peace and stability and push forward common prosperity of developing countries.
Right now, the momentum of developing Sino-Egyptian relations is good and the two countries have made continued progress in carrying out cooperation in all various fields," said Liu at a news conference held here.
"The Sino-Egyptian Strategic and Cooperative Relations, which the presidents of the two countries decided to forge in 1999, have been deepened increasingly. In politics, China and Egypt have maintained contacts and consultations at various levels and through various channels," Liu said.
Both sides have identical views and stances in many significant issues regarding bilateral relations, regional and global situations and have carried out fruitful cooperation, Liu said, adding that such coordination and cooperation have been enhanced especially after the September 11 terror attacks on the United States.
He cited phone talks between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Egyptian President Mubarak to discuss anti-terrorist issues and reach wide consensus, as well as Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan's visit to Egypt at the end of last year to promote bilateral relations.
Trade between China and Egypt have been kept a growth momentum as the total volume of bilateral trade reached 800 million U.S. dollars in the first 10 months of 2001, up by 4 percent compared to the same period of 2000, Liu said.
He said that both sides are actively exploring new ways of expanding trade and economic cooperation, adding that the two countries are also increasing contacts and cooperation in the fields of military, science, culture and education.
President Mubarak's scheduled visit comes within the context of flourishing developments of Sino-Egyptian relations, Liu said, stressing that regular meetings between the two leaders would be of great significance to consolidate friendships between China and Egypt, promote bilateral relations, maintain regional and global peace and stability and push forward common prosperity of developing countries.
Mubarak will head to Beijing on January 23 on his eighth official visit to China.
(People's Daily January 14, 2002)
