Chinese, Egyptian leaders hail 50-year-long relations
    

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and visiting Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak extolled the 50-year-long friendly ties between the two countries in Beijing Monday, saying that their relationship are exemplary to developing countries.

"China and Egypt forged diplomatic ties 50 years ago, which not only marked a new page in bilateral relations, but also greatly boosted China's relations with Arabic and other African countries," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Wu said the two countries enjoy close political relations and their economic and trade cooperation is also on the rise.

"China values the traditional friendship with Egypt and hopes to improve bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, telecommunications and infrastructure construction to push the China-Egypt strategic cooperation to a new level," Wu said.

Mubarak said China's rapid economic growth has created more opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

He said he hopes the business circles of the two countries will enhance cooperation to contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

Mubarak also met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday. On Tuesday, Chinese President Hu Jintao will hold a welcoming ceremony for Mubarak and the two leaders will hold talks.

This is Mubarak's ninth visit to China. On Nov.4-5, the president and leaders from another 47 African countries attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the largest diplomatic event between China and Africa since 1949.