Mubarak, Zemin meet; Egypt- China relations, strategic
Egypt-China, Politics, 4/17/2000

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who arrived today in Cairo.

"President Hosni Mubarak and Chinese President Jiang Zemin called for boosting bilateral cooperation to face challenges of globalization at the threshold of the third Millennium," Information Minister Safwat Al- Sherif said.

Following the Egyptian-Chinese Summit, Sherif said that the two leaders tackled several issues, including means of activating technology transfer and maximizing the utilization of the economic zone in north west of the Gulf of Suez.

President Mubarak and President Zemin opened a session of talks Monday at Ras El-tin palace in this Mediterranean port, immediately after the arrival of the Chinese leader.

During the talks, President Mubarak underlined the importance of benefiting from the Chinese expertise in setting up joint ventures within the relevant agreements clinched by the two countries, according to Sherif.

"The Egyptian-Chinese talks covered ways of enhancing bilateral economic cooperation through giving access to the Egyptian exports in the Chinese market, Sherif further said. The talks also dealt with means of encouraging Chinese tourism movement to Egypt and promoting trade exchange," he added.

Egyptian Ambassador to China Noaaman Galal said that the summit discussed regional and international situations of joint concern, especially Middle East peace process developments in view of Egypt's important role and obvious efforts to push forward the peace efforts.

Galal said the visit to Egypt by Chinese Leader Jiang Zemin would cover dimensions of the Egyptian-Chinese relations and China's attitude towards the Middle East peace process.

Galal said the visit by the Chinese leader has a special nature, adding this specialty is based first on the close relations between President Mubarak and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin which have developed since their first meeting in Cairo in 1996, secondly on friendship relations between Egypt and China, thirdly on civilization relations between Egypt and China which date back to thousands of years and fourthly the signing by the two leaders of a strategic relations declaration last April.

On relations between the two countries, the Egyptian Ambassador to China said these strategic relations are very important for the following factors:

First: These relations are based on historical experience and the non-existence of political differences between the two countries.

Second: The active movement of the Egyptian diplomacy for peace and settling problems by peaceful means is similar to the movement of the Chinese diplomacy.

Third: The main hub of the two countries interest is economic development.

Fourth: Strategic relations between Egypt and China are not directed against anybody as the goal of both countries is to establish peace and to deepen cooperation.

Galal said the visit would provide an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on ways of maintaining international peace and stability.

He added Egyptian-Chinese relations are progressing, indicating that trade exchange between the two countries has reached $750 million in the year 1999, adding Chinese investments in Egypt amounted to $6.5 billion in 1998.

Ambassador Galal said he is confident that this visit would deepen friendship between the two countries.

Chinese sources stated that the Chinese president reassured Egypt concerning the military cooperation between Israel and China.

Previous Stories:
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