Egypt's Ambassador to China Ahmed Rezq has described President Mohamed Morsi's visit later this month as “important and historic". The first visit of Egypt's democratically elected President to China – and the first of an Egyptian leader since a revolution that ousted the Mubarak regime – aims at bolstering bilateral ties at the official and popular levels, Rezq told the official MENA news agency. In Beijing, Morsi will have talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, Vice-President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and other senior officials. During the two-day visit, Morsi will be accompanied by a ministerial and businessmen delegation. President Morsi will open the Egyptian-Chinese Co-operation Forum, to be organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, where the two sides will discuss boosting bilateral co-operation, the Egyptian Ambassador continued. Businessmen from both countries will attend the Egyptian-Chinese Businessmen Forum, in which several Chinese trade, investment and industrial companies will be taking part. Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with China, in May 1956. The Egyptian side is hoping to enhance the flow of Chinese investments and tourists to the North African country, benefiting from China's expertise in fields like combating poverty, developing shantytowns and promoting small and medium-size enterprises. Co-operation talks will also address the transfer of technology, environmental issues, new and renewable energy, agriculture and water resources, Rezq explained. Morsi's talks with the Chinese officials will tackle international and regional issues of common concern, focusing on the changes that have been taking place in the Middle East. Rezq noted that the ties between the two countries are very good, having witnessed the signing of a strategic accord in 1999, followed by strategic dialogue at the level of foreign ministers in 2006. They also have a mechanism for political consultations, whose last round was held in the Chinese capital last January. Trade exchange between Egypt and the Asian giant hit $8.8 billion in 2011. The Egyptian side realises how difficult it is to try to bridge the enormous trade gap in favour of China, despite the boom in trade exchange in recent years. But Egyptian officials are doing their best to make up for this, working hard to attract more Chinese investments to Egypt.
