by Muhammad Yamany, Emad al-Azrak

    CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China has a historic role supporting Solidarity movements in the countries of the south and it is a real model and proof of the third world's ability towards development and progress which are not limited to the developed world, said Ahmed Hamroush, Afro-Asian Solidarity Association (AASA) Chief.

    On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Hamroush told Xinhua in a recent interview that the Chinese experience is rich and shows that developing countries and countries of the south are capable of achieving similar achievements made by countries calling themselves developed.

    Hamroush said that China considers itself a developing country and it is proud of that, adding that China exerts great efforts to help developing countries overcome their problems and issues especially economic issues in addition to its prominent, key role in Non-aligned Movement (NAM) and countries of the south, economically and politically.

    He attributed success of the Chinese experience during 60 years to the existence of a strong national system led by a party expresses the will and trust of the Chinese people, stressing that the Communist Party of China (CPC) enjoys the confidence and appreciation of the masses as it works hard for Chinese people's future.

    Hamroush expressed his happiness after his visits to China several times, saying that from time to another he finds real progress and development.

    Regarding Chinese-Egyptian relations, he said, "We are proud that Egypt, under the rule of late president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1956-1970), was the first Arab and African country to recognize the People's Republic of China and friendly relations were established between the two countries."

    He added that during a meeting between Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Egypt's president Nasser in Bandung in 1955, they agreed that China would help Egypt to get weapons from the former Soviet Union (USSR) to end the British monopoly to the Egyptian weapons.

    "Relations between Egypt and China are getting better due to scientific, economic and technological development in China," said Hamroush, adding that Egypt is caring for establishing good relations with cooperative and helpful countries like China.

    Asked about his evaluation of China's situation towards supporting Arab issues, especially the Palestinian issue as the core of the long Arab-Israeli conflict, Hamroush said, "We appreciate the Chinese position regarding the Arab issues and China spent a long time with no diplomatic relations with Israel but it established diplomatic relations with Israel after Madrid conference."

    "Although China has diplomatic relations with Israel, it did not stop supporting the Arab issues especially the Palestinian issue and the rights of the Palestinian people," Hamroush added.