Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Photo Gallery>>>

    CAIRO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao discussed bilateral ties, global challenges and Middle East peace with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak here on Saturday.

    Egypt was the first Arabic and African country to establish diplomatic relations and relations of strategic cooperation with China and the China-Egypt relationship occupied an important position in China's foreign relations, Wen said.

    In recent years, the content of the bilateral strategic cooperation has been increasingly enriched, and has produced mutually beneficial achievements, he said.

    The two countries have closely cooperated on major international and global issues, and have effectively protected common interests. China is willing to work with Egypt to maintain high-profile exchanges, deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and commerce, and to strengthen communication and coordination on major issues, including the international financial crisis and climate change, the Chinese premier said.

    Mubarak said the friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries in all areas has been going well.

    Egypt is well placed and willing to serve as an active bridge connecting China, Arab and African nations, he said.

    On the Middle East issue, Wen said China supported a solution based on U.N. relevant resolutions, the "land for peace" principle and the Arab Peace Initiative. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be solved through dialogue and political negotiation, the Middle East peace process should be promoted, Wen said.

    Currently, opportunities and challenges coexist in the Middle East peace process and it is important to restart the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks as soon as possible, he said.

    China supports Egypt continuing to play an important role in the process, and supports Arab countries for their efforts in seeking regional peace, and peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine and their people, Wen said.

    Mubarak said Egypt will continue to actively mediate in the Middle East peace process, and to create conditions for a new round of Middle East peace talks.

    Wen is paying a two-day official visit to Egypt. He arrived in Cairo on Friday, and is to attend the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled to open on Sunday.

Chinese premier proposes five ways to expand Egypt ties 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) meets with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Nazef in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Photo Gallery>>>

    CAIRO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a five-point proposal to further expand cooperation between China and Egypt during a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Nazef here on Saturday.

    Wen said practical cooperation between the two sides had grown in the three years since his last visit, when the countries agreed to deepen strategic and cooperative relations. China has invested more in Egypt and people-to-people exchanges had also greatly increased.Full story 

Chinese premier arrives in Egypt for official visit, FOCAC meeting

Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif(L) and visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao review an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony in Cairo, capital of Egypt, Nov. 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Photo Gallery>>>

    CAIRO, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived here Friday, starting a two-day official visit to Egypt preceding a top-level review of action to build China-Africa cooperation.

    Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef received Wen at the airport.

    During his visit, Wen is scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and hold talks with Nazef. He will also meet with Arab League chief Amr Mussa, and deliver a speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Full story

Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to start in Egypt to boost Sino-African relations

    SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 8-9.

    The FOCAC, jointly proposed and established by China and more than 40 African countries in 2000, is a collective consultation and dialogue mechanism between China and African countries, as well as a major and future-oriented move in the context of South-South cooperation to seek common development in the new situation. Full story