China will work with Egypt to promote the development of bilateral strategic and cooperative relations, said Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju at a meeting in Cairo Sunday with Egyptian President Muhammed Hosni Mubarak.

Huang said Egypt is an important cooperative partner of China among Arab and African countries, and bilateral relations, especially economic and trade cooperation,

have witnessed positive progress with efforts from both sides under the direction in the new century mapped out by heads of the two countries.

Mubarak said Egypt and China boast sound political relations and there are vast potentials for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

He said Egypt is building its Suez economic zone and it hopes to learn from China's experiences and strengthen cooperation with China.

He said the Egyptian government and he himself attach great importance to the strategic and cooperative relations with China, and are full of confidence in the prospects for bilateral ties.

In the talks here Sunday with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef, Huang made a four-point proposal for the further development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The first is to enhance contacts between enterprises of the two sides and strengthen trade relations in their complementary fields.

The second is to expand bilateral cooperation in telecommunications, aviation and other high-tech areas, push forward energy cooperation, and encourage joint investment in other countries.

The third is to conduct better cooperation in the Suez economic zone and the Chinese side hopes that the Egyptian side will adjust its related policies to continue to create better conditions for bilateral cooperation.

The fourth is to continue expanding bilateral tourism cooperation.

Nazef held that Huang's proposal is pragmatic and he agreed with Huang.

Nazef said Egypt welcomes Chinese investment in the Suez economic zone in such areas as chemicals, textile and building materials, and hopes that both sides will strengthen cooperation in communications and pharmacy as well.

Egypt is the last leg of Huang's four-nation tour. He visited Luxembourg, Ireland and Turkey before arriving here Saturday evening.

Source: Xinhua