Egypt's People's Assembly Speaker Ahmed Sorour on Monday highlighted Sino-Egyptian and Sino-African relations as excellent and outstanding and expected more bilateral cooperation.

 

During his talks with Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Wu Sike and an interview with Xinhua and other Chinese media in Egypt, Sorour said that China is a friendly country and a trustworthy friend, a great country, with which Egypt had distinguished ties in the political, economic and cultural domains.

 

He added that Egypt hold dear close relations with China and attached great importance to such long standing relations.

 

As to exchanges between China's National People's Congress (NPC) and Egypt's People's Assembly, Sorour said they reflect the strengthening of the cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies.

 

There were many mutual visits in the parliamentary field, which resulted in many agreements to improve mutual understanding and political trust, said the Egyptian parliament speaker.

 

He expected to strengthen Egypt's relations with China in political, parliamentary, economic and of course cultural spheres with a strong desire and will.

 

He noted that he is looking forward to "talks with Chinese executive and parliamentary leaders about bilateral issues which concerned the two countries, so that we fulfill all the requirements or comprehension to cooperate together."

 

He also expressed keenness to study the Chinese model of social transition and the Chinese progress in all aspects, specially in economy. He said Egypt wants to learn the Chinese experience in development and dealing with economic problems.

 

He agreed that Egypt's cooperation with China is strong, but still voiced keenness to broaden the cooperation to more field. "We encourage this bilateral cooperation by all means."

 

On the issue of Sino-African cooperation, Sorour said "we hope China makes investment in Africa to help Africa to overcome poverty, help Africa realize the project for development."

 

He also expects the east, mainly spearheaded by China, to invest in Africa and help the Africans, noting that Africa is a strong continent, and this continent must be independent.

 

"The independence of the Africa or the Africans will help all the world ... it has to be developed or its people has to cooperate with all the world," the Egyptian parliament speaker said.

 

He also noted that "the presence of China in Africa is very important for its independence, for its developments and for the cooperation between China and Africa."

 

Answering a question about the current mistrust of the Chinese products stirred by some media, Sorour showed his confidence in "Made in China," saying he has a Chinese TV set at his office.

 

He defended the Chinese products by saying that it came as a result of competitiveness with the western industrial countries.

 

He also affirmed the Chinese products' important role in the international market, noting it is the Chinese products that filled the baskets of the low-income families.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2007)