Mubarak inspects China's technological experiment
Egypt-China, Politics, 1/26/2002

On the third day of his visit to China, President Mubarak yesterday visited Shenzhen high-tech city which is described as China's economic miracle in modern time.

The President and Mrs. Mubarak were welcomed at the airport by the deputy mayor of the city.

Later, the President met with Shenzhen mayor on an official lunch banquet in honour of the President and his spouse.

The mayor of the city briefed the President on the pioneering experiment in building the city 20 years ago.

During this period, the city has become the third in China after Beijing and Shanghai.

The President expressed hope that this zone would attract major Chinese companies operating in the field of technology and sophisticated industries.

President Mubarak Friday visited Huawei Telecommunications Company in the southeast Chinese town of Shenzen, the largest Chinese company in this field of technology.

The company chairman was on hand to welcome President Mubarak and his accompanying delegation.

The host said the company's telecommunications sales in the whole world are estimated at $ 3.1 billion a year and employs 22,000 of specialised engineers.

"Forty five percent of the employees are specialised in product research and development, 36 percent in sales and marketing, ten percent in design and manufacturing and only ten percent in management," said the chairman.

He said 3,000 engineers are added every year to the company's working force and are trained at the expense of the state before being streamlined into the job.

At its early stages the company fairly depended on government subsidy. But it later developed its own resources.

"This enables the company to upgrade its product and export, which in turn boosts its competitiveness abroad," said the chairman.

He added that his company is a major competitor to the US and European counterparts.

It rather outclassed them in the design patterns and creativity and has 40 branches in the US, India and Europe, he remarked.

"The company entered the Egyptian market in 1990 by cooperating with Egyptian companies in design, manufacturing and technology transfer," he said.

"It works jointly with the Arab Company for Telephone Industry and the Egyptian Ahleya for Telecommunications, operating under the investment law," he noted.

President Mubarak reviewed the production lines and watched the latest products by the company.

The company presented Egypt $ 6 million worth of equipment on this occasion.

Ahleya chairman Hussein El Khouli said his company and the Chinese Huawei signed an agreement for technology transfer through joint manufacturing and technology transfer programme.

"The company imports no telecommunication equipment from abroad but depends on local production," he noted.

"It has recently manufactured a 100 percent locally made telephone set for domestic use in addition to 40 percent locally-made mobile handset," he added.

President Mubarak thanked Huawei chairman for his present, saying that Egypt is ready to offer all facilities for a telecommunication equipment manufacturing center for the company in the Middle East.

The company chairman, who presented 40,000 mobile telecommunications equipment to Egypt estimated at the value of $ 6.5 million, said he is looking forward to building a branch in Egypt as a manufacturing center for the company in the Middle East.

Mubarak and his accompanying delegation headed later to the technology valley where a protocol of cooperation was signed between the valley and the prospective Mubarak Science City.

He expressed his admiration of the valley and voiced hope the signed protocol would further cooperation in the technological field.

At the end of the visit of the President, Al-Ahram refers to the following facts:

It has become clear from the intensive tour by the President of the city of Sheuzhen and Telecommunications Company as well as high-tech city that President Mubarak was keen to get acquainted with progress of sophisticated technology and how Egypt can benefit from it.

- The Palestinian cause was atop of President Mubarak's interest as the deteriorating situation in the occupied lands was the main topic in talks with Chinese leaders where the President explained facts Israel is hiding from the world.

- The visit was a successful means of bolstering bilateral relations.

- The Egyptian-Chinese economic file between Egypt and China was given prominence. This is testified by the signing of five agreements in the field of petroleum, tourism and peaceful use of atomic energy and the establishment of the Egyptian and Chinese Businessmen Council.

"President Mubarak was keen on visiting Huawei Telecommunications Company and the valley of hi-tech industries to explore the latest developments in this field," said Egyptian Information Minister Safwat A1 Sherif.

"That is why President Mubarak paid a visit this time to the southeast Chinese town of Shenzhen," he added.

"President Mubarak listened carefully to presentations given by the chairmen of companies and institutions in Huawei and Shenzhen," said the Information Minister.

"The President asked many questions on the applications of such hi-tech technologies in the fields of science, medicine, agriculture, telecommunications, biotechnology and education," he added.

"Both institutions visited by President Mubarak maintain close cooperation with a number of Egyptian institutions such as the Egyptian telecommunications authority and the Mubarak Scientific city," said Sherif.

"President Mubarak expressed hope that the northwest of Suez area would be able to lure large Chinese high-tech companies pledging to offer huge facilities to foreign investors in this area," said the Minister.

Mubarak announced that a new legislation on these facilities will be issued by the People's Assembly.

"President Mubarak encouraged Chinese companies to invest in Egypt, adding that the Egyptian-Chinese businessmen council, officially declared Thursday, could play a major role in this regard,"' Sherif said.

In Egypt, Minister of Information Safwat Al Sherif said Friday that talks are underway to set up full cooperation between the International Academy for Information in Egypt and the Valley of Technology in Shenzhen.

In press statements, he said talks will also arrange for the exchange of visits between technicians to create a scientific, technological and technical relations between the two countries' bodies.

"During his meeting with President Mubarak on Thursday, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji told Mubarak that he would like him (Mubarak) to address him (Rongji) as "my brother"," said Sherif.

The Chinese leaders appreciate President Mubarak for his success in the field of economic reform and his vision of the danger of terrorism.

Previous Stories:
  President Mubarak meets Chinese leaders   (1/25/2002)
  Mubarak, Zemin discuss situation in Palestinian territories   (1/24/2002)
  Mubarak, Zemin attend signing of five cooperation agreements   (1/24/2002)

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