Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef on Saturday afternoon to discuss means to deepen bilateral strategic and cooperative relations.

 

During the talks, Wen said that bilateral relations have constantly developed, and at present, Sino-Egyptian friendship and cooperation has reached an unprecedented level and brought about tangible benefits to the people of the two countries.

 

"We are satisfied with it," he said, adding it has been and will be proved that the two countries are trustworthy good friends and good partners of sincere cooperation to each other.

 

On his part, Nazef said that Premier Wen visited Egypt on the 50th anniversary of Sino-Egyptian diplomatic relations, thus further promoting growth of bilateral strategic and cooperative ties.

 

Nazef said that the two countries, both ancient civilizations, have shared interests in a variety of areas, adding that Egypt sees China as a close friend and an important partner in development course.

 

He said that Egypt is willing to learn from China in terms of development and strengthen its cooperation with China in political, economic, cultural and other areas.

 

The two sides agreed that it is imperative for the two countries to develop bilateral ties from a long-term and strategic perspective.

 

The two prime ministers also praised the signing of an implementation outline for deepening strategic and cooperative relations between China and Egypt, saying that the outline is a comprehensive blueprint for bilateral cooperation in all areas in the years to come and the two sides are ready to work together to implement the outline.

 

During the talks, the two countries also agreed to take measures to promote bilateral relations.

 

They agreed to keep contact between governments, parliaments and political parties of the two countries, strengthen strategic dialogue and exchange views on bilateral ties and major international issues in time.

 

They agreed to seek new ways of economic and trade cooperation to achieve a balanced growth of trade, increase mutual investment and upgrade technological cooperation and expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, fisheries, telecommunications, energy, transportation and infrastructure.

 

They agreed to strengthen exchanges in the areas of culture, education, science and technology, health and tourism to promote mutual understanding.

 

They also agreed to deepen consultation and coordination in regional and international affairs to push forward democratization of international relations and promote dialogue among different civilizations and shape a harmonious world.

 

The two prime ministers also exchanged views on Sino-Arab ties. Wen said that Egypt is a country of great importance in the Arab world, and the establishment of Sino-Egyptian diplomatic ties 50 years ago opened the door for developing Sino-Arab relations.

 

He said that China values its traditional friendship with Arab countries and will continue to support the just cause of Arab countries to restore legitimate rights and efforts to seek the path of development suited for their own national situation.

 

He said that the Chinese side is willing to work with Egypt and other Arab countries to promote Sino-Arab cooperation through the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum and other channels in an effort to develop a new pattern of Sino-Arab partnership based on equality, mutual benefit and oriented toward the future.

 

On his part, Nazef said that the Egyptian side hopes to work with the Chinese side to push forward Sino-Arab ties.

 

Following the talks, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony for 11 accords covering political, economic, cultural and educational aspects.

 

Of the accords, Wen and Nazef signed an implementation outline for deepening strategic and cooperative relations between China and Egypt.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit signed an agreement between the two governments on mutual exemption from visa for Chinese diplomatic and service passport holders and for Egyptian diplomatic and special passport holders.

 

Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Faiza Abu Naga inked three agreements, namely, an agreement on economic and technological cooperation, a framework agreement on preferential loan from China to Egypt and a MOU between the two governments on building a rural primary school in Egypt.

 

After the signing ceremony, Wen and Nazef attended a ceremony to inaugurate several cooperative projects in Egypt, including an investors' building featuring one-stop service, a phosphate project in New Valley, and a project of rehabilitation of Cairo International Conference Center and construction of a five-star affiliated hotel.

 

Wen arrived in Cairo Saturday afternoon on a two-day official visit to Egypt at the invitation of Nazef.

 

Egypt is the first leg of Wen's seven-nation visit to Africa, which will also take him to Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2006)