Mubarak, Chinese President discuss promotion of relations

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday discussed with his Chinese counterpart developments in the Middle East and Iraq as well as bilateral relations.

The Chinese President arrived in Cairo yesterday marking the beginning of a visit to Egypt that will last for four days. One Egyptian official said that the Chinese President and Mubarak "held talks that dealt with the developments of the Middle East issues, the situation in Iraq and areas of cooperation between Egypt and China and the situation on the African arena."

Egypt is the second station in a foreign tour carried out by the Chinese President. It includes France. He will also visit during it Gabon and Algeria. The Egyptian official said that talks between the Chinese President and Mubarak and other Egyptian officials will concentrate on fostering bilateral relations between Egypt and his country. In arrival statements in Cairo quoted by the Middle East News Agency, the Chinese President expressed his country's care to strengthen relations with Egypt.