China is willing to continue traditional friendship and consolidate political mutual trust with Egypt while strengthening cooperation with Arab League countries, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Friday.
Mao made the comments at a regular press briefing in Beijing in response to a media query concerning Chinese Premier Li Qiang's official visit to Egypt from July 9 to 10.
"Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Egypt from July 9 to 10. He met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, held talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly, and met with Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives Hanafy Ali Gebaly. Li said that China has always prioritized developing relations with Egypt in its Middle East diplomacy. China is willing to work with Egypt to take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt next year as an opportunity to continue traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, continue to firmly support each other on issues involving their core interests, continuously enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt to make more achievements in cooperation in various fields, and continue to move towards the goal of building a China-Egypt community with a shared future for the new era," said Mao.
"China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with Egypt within multilateral frameworks by practicing true multilateralism and safeguarding economic globalization and the international economic and trade order, so as to defend the common interests of the vast number of developing countries, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East and the world. During the visit, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents in the fields including e-commerce, green and low-carbon, development aid, finance and health," said Mao.
"While in Egypt, Premier Li Qiang also met with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit. Li said that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Arab heads of state, China-Arab relations have entered the best period in history. China has always viewed and developed relations with Arab countries from a strategic height, firmly supported the just cause of Arab countries, and supported Arab countries in strengthening strategic autonomy, unity and self-reliance, and taking development paths that suits their national conditions. China is willing to strengthen friendly relations with the Arab League, enhance strategic mutual trust with Arab countries, deepen cooperation in various fields, work together to promote modernization, and build a higher level of China-Arab community with a shared future. Li expressed the hope that the Arab League will continue to play an important role in promoting the development of China-Arab relations, and work together with China to make the second China-Arab States Summit next year a success," said Mao.
China willing to continue friendship, consolidate mutual trust with Egypt: spokeswoman
