Egyptian- Chinese contacts for arrangements to Mubarak's visit

Intensive contacts are being made with Peking to set a date for a forthcoming visit to President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt for China. Well-informed Diplomatic sources expected this visit to be made during the second half of January, 2002.

The sources said the agenda of Mubarak's talks in Peking includes the question of international terrorism and Cairo's efforts to convene an international conference to this effect under the umbrella of the UN to discuss means of eliminate this phenomenon, according to certain resolutions and obligations set by all countries of the world.

The sources added that the Egyptian President will seek to get Peking's support, in its capacity as one of the greater states in the world and of the permanent membership at the UN Security Council.

The sources continued that discussions between the Egyptian President and the Chinese side will also concentrate on the situation in the Middle East and the importance of having an international pressure on Tel Aviv to force it to halt attacks against the Palestinians and returning back to the table of negotiations as well as honoring and implementing signed agreements.