Mubarak's China visits
The visit to China on November 4, 2006 by President Hosni Mubarak is the 9th in a row. Two of these were made in his capacity as vice president.
Visit No. 1
On April 19, 1976, the then Vice President Hosni Mubarak was invited to visit China. He obliged, leading a high-ranking delegation. Upon his arrival, he held talks with top Chinese officials. On the second day, he was received by Chinese leader Mao Zedong. A tour of the Chinese Air Force Command headquarters was arranged for him, during which he was shown the latest make of Chinese jet fighters.
Visit No. 2
The early 1980s saw Egypt and China enter a new stage. A visit was thus arranged for Vice President Hosni Mubarak on January 5, 1980.
China's Vice-Premier of the State Council Huang Ju said, at a banquet held in honor of his guest, that Beijing is committed to a complete Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories and to the Palestinian right to statehood. Vice Premier Ju also underlined his country's support of the struggle of the Egyptian, Palestinian and Arab peoples.
On his part, Vice President Mubarak said that that China will be remembered in history as a supporter of third world struggle; indeed as a country committed to principles.
Discussions during the visit focused on international issues, conditions in the Middle East and South Asia and bilateral ties. The two sides were satisfied with the progress achieved so far in relations between the two countries.
Visit No. 3
On April 3, 1983, Mubarak visited China in his capacity as President of Egypt. It was the first such visit by an Egyptian president to China. There he met top Chinese officials and discussed ways of promoting economic cooperation between the two countries.
Visit No. 4
The 1990s witnessed a boost in Sino-Egyptian relations. Cultural and economic exchanges intensified and the flow of tourists to and from both countries was on the rise. A strategic partnership was attained during President Mubarak's visit on May 11, 1990.
Visit No. 5
On October 12, 1992 President Mubarak visited China, where he held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
However, because of an earthquake in Egypt, the visit was cut short. President Mubarak returned home.
Visit No. 6
President Mubarak visited China on April 21, 1994 for talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who indicated that both China and Egypt were the birthplaces of deep-rooted civilizations and that friendship between them go back a long way in the past.
On his part, President Mubarak asserted that relations between the two countries were running smoothly in all fields.
The two leaders exchanged views on the Middle East crisis and the N. Korea nuclear program.
Following the talks, the foreign ministers of the two countries signed an agreement on protecting investment and extraditing criminals.
On April 22, President Mubarak visited the Beijing technology development area and expressed his desire for the two countries to cooperate in all fields.
Visit No. 7
On April 5, 1999, President Mubarak visited China for talks with President Jiang Zemin. Following talks, the two leaders signed a joint statement establishing strategic cooperation relations. The statement underlined the need:
To create a new political and economic world order that is fair and reasonable.
To solidify cooperation and solidarity between developing countries and to bridge the gap between the worlds rich and poor.
To achieve a comprehensive and durable peace in the Middle East by totally committing to and fully abiding by the agreements signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
The international community to entrench the concept of disarming particularly in respect of weapons of mass destruction so that no country or region would be excepted.
To condemn terrorism in all its forms and to cooperate in the war on terror.
To develop Africa and encourage Africans to choose the political and developmental ways most suited to their conditions.
Visit No. 8
On January 23, 2002, President Mubarak visited China for talks with President Jiang Zemin on ways of promoting strategic cooperation between the two sides.
President Zemin asserted that China puts Egypt at the lead of its Arab and African partners and that it was ready to add more components to the already existing strategic cooperation agreement.
During the visit, the Egyptian-Chinese Businessmen's Council was established, the first meeting of which took place in Cairo in March 2003.
5 agreements were also signed:
A framework agreement of cooperation in the oil field.
A framework agreement of cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
An Agreement for a concessional loan.
An agreement for technical and economic cooperation
A memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Tourism and the China National Tourism Administration to enter Egypt on the list China's favorite tourist sites.
