Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak praised the progress China has made in the development of its relations with both Arab world and Africa during talks with visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao in Cairo Thursday evening.  

Mubarak noted that the China-Africa Cooperation Forum plays an important role in the promotion of China's relations with Africa.

President Hu said China has always regarded Egypt as a key cooperation partner in the Arab world and Africa, highly valuing its role in both regional and international affairs.

"Egypt enjoys a crucial status in the Arab world, and I believe the development of Sino-Egyptian relationship of strategic cooperation will have a positive impact on the development of the relations between China and other Arab countries," the Chinese leader told a joint press conference after the talks.

Hu said during the talks that China and Egypt have scored remarkable achievements in their relations particularly after his predecessor Jiang Zemin and President Mubarak jointly made an appeal for the establishment of a bilateral relationship of strategic partnership in 1999.

In order to promote the China-Egypt relationship, Hu proposed to maintain frequent exchanges of visits by high-level officials of the two countries as well as other forms of contacts so as to enhance mutual understanding and expand common ground.

He also urged to forge closer economic and trade links, in sectors including communications, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, oil, subway transportation and aviation, and to promote cooperation in such fields as culture, education, tourism and journalism.

In addition, the Chinese president called for further coordination and cooperation on regional and international issues.

Mubarak said he agreed to Hu's proposals on promoting bilateralties, and he was confident that President Hu's visit will boost the political and economic links between his country and China and bring bilateral ties into a new stage of development.

The Chinese President arrived in the Egyptian capital from France on Thursday for a four-day state visit. Egypt is the second leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which will also take him to Gabon and Algeria.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2004)