Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef on Thursday respectively received a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Liu Yunshan, member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and head of the CPC Central Committee Publicity Department.

During the talks with the Egyptian leaders, Liu conveyed the cordial greetings of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to Mubarak and Nazef.

Liu said China and Egypt has a long history of friendly relations, noting the CPC and the Chinese government cherish the friendship with Egypt.

Currently the strategic cooperation of the two countries have witnessed sustainable and rapid developments in various fields, including politics, economy, culture, education and tourism, said the senior Chinese official.

The two sides exchange opinions frankly, support and cooperate with each other closely on important international and regional issues, said Liu, adding China is willing to work with Egypt to advance the bilateral ties to a higher level.

Liu Yunshan(L) meets with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. [Xinhua PHOTO]

For his part, Mubarak recalled his visit to Beijing in 2006 to attend the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, asking Liu to convey his good-will greetings to Hu.

Both Egypt and China have ancient civilizations and long histories, said Mubarak, adding his country is proud of being the first Arab and African country that established diplomatic ties and strategic relations with China.

Egypt appreciates China's important role on maintaining the world peace and development, securing the benefits of developing countries and promoting world economic developments, said Mubarak.

Describing the bilateral ties as strong and reliable, Mubarak said his country has the willingness to enhance cooperation with China in various fields.

Meanwhile, Nazef said Egypt admires the economic and social achievements China has made in the past 30 years of reform and opening-up.

Nazef voiced his hope that the friendly relations of the two countries would advance further, saying the two sides should enhance cooperation in the sectors of finance, culture, tourism and science and technology.

During the visit to Egypt, Liu also had talks with Secretary General of the ruling National Democratic Party Safwat el-Sherif, who is also speaker of the Egyptian Shura Council (upper house of the parliament), and exchanged opinions extensively in order to strengthen friendship between the two countries and the two parties.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2008)