Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming paid a farewell call on Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher on August 10th, 2003. They exchanged views on China-Egypt relations and other issues of common interest.

Foreign Minister Maher said that China is a major country with worldwide influence. Egypt appreciates the positive role played by China in safeguarding peace and stability in the Middle East region. Egypt attaches great importance to its strategic cooperative relationship with China. President Hosny Mubarak has visited China eight times and government departments of the two countries are engaged in close contact and cooperation. He is very pleased to see the remarkable progress in Egypt-China relations in the recent years. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming in furthering this relationship.


Ambassador Liu Xiaoming said he is pleased with the fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various areas between China and Egypt. Thanks to the joint efforts by both sides, the strategic cooperative relationship between the two countries has been constantly enriched. He appreciates the efforts by Minister Maher in promoting this relationship. He believes a sound relationship between China and Egypt, two major developing countries, is conducive not only to promoting the fundamental interests of Chinese and Egyptian peoples, but also to safeguarding the peace and stability of the Middle East. Today, he said, we are faced with new opportunities to further this relationship. China stands ready to work with Egypt, for broadening the opportunities of cooperation and pushing forward this relationship.


As regard to the Middle East peace process, Ambassador Liu said China attaches importance to the prominent mediating role by Egypt. China is appreciative and supportive of positive steps taken by the Palestinians and Israelis to support peace efforts by the international community. We hope both sides to effectively carry out their commitment of cease-fire and troop withdrawal so as to further the reconciliation process. China is ready to work with the international community and make its due contributions to earlier materialization of long-term peace and security in the region as well as peaceful coexistence of the Palestinian and Israelis peoples. Ambassador Liu also briefed Foreign Minister Maher on China’s principled position on the Iraq issue and the five-point statement on post-war reconstruction in Iraq.



Foreign Minister Maher expressed appreciation for China’s position on the Middle East peace process and the Iraq issue. At the end of the meeting, Foreign Minister Maher presented to Ambassador Liu a silver plate with inscription of "In Appreciation of Ambassador Liu Xiaoming’s Contributions to Egypt-China Relations."

ENDITEM