China and Egypt, through their solid political relations and fast growing economic ties, have great opportunities to develop cooperation, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun.

At the forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Egypt Diplomatic Relations on Saturday, diplomats from the two countries pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in international and regional issues, to further push forward diplomatic ties.

Chairman of the board of the Egyptian Council on Foreign Affairs (ECFA) Abdel Raouf El Reedy said Egypt and China are influential countries in Africa and Asia and relations between the two countries are of international importance.

He called for the two countries to strengthen coordination in international and regional issues and play a bigger role in maintaining international and regional peace and stability.

China and Egypt established diplomatic ties in 1956, and established a strategic relationship of cooperation in 1999.

The two countries should also enhance communication and exchanges in economic, trade, cultural and educational areas, said Egyptian Ambassador to China Mahmoud Allam, noting the development of economic and cultural relations will give a new impetus to the development of political relations.

China has become the third largest trading partner of Egypt. The trade volume of the two countries in the first half of this year reached 1.357 billion US dollars, up 49 percent on last year. The two countries also signed a series of cooperation agreements in areas including technology, tourism, culture and education.

Source: Xinhua