From Chinese Press

Two edifices, two giants illuminate Sino-Egyptian bond of friendship

(People's Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-09 09:40

Whenever China and Egypt are mentioned, two great edifices and two giants will come to mind instantly. The two edifices are no other than the world famous Great Wall of China and the famed Egyptian pyramids, while the two giants refer definitely to late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and late Egyptian President Gama Abdel Nasser.

Indeed, the two imposing edifices can be rated as consummate feats and immortal monuments in the world history of civilization; they have given expression to the superb wisdom and matchless craftsmanship, and the infinite love of our forefathers for peace and their dauntless pursuit of life.

China and Egypt enjoy a long history of friendly ties tracing back to more than 2,000 years ago. Its Han dynasty Emperor Wu Ti (Wudi) sent an envoy to the present Egyptian port of Alexander in 120 B.C., and this represents the earliest contact between the two ancient powers. Afterward, the northern Great Ancient Silk Road stretching from east to west, which cut across the formidable Pamirs and vast Gobi and other great deserts, linked people of both China and Egypt heart to heart.

As for the two late great leaders, namely, Premier Zhou Enlai and Egyptian President Nasser, they met at the sidelines of the 1955 Bandung Conference, and their talks at Bandung laid down a solid foundation for closer relations between the two great nations in later years. On May 30, 1956, China and Egypt declared the formal establishment of their diplomatic relations, which made Egypt the first Arab and African country to have diplomatic ties with China.

Both being peace-loving countries, the people of China and Egypt have, treating each other on an equal footing and advancing hand in hand, been working hard and diligently for the development of their respective nations and to seek the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries; they have also striven to contribute vigorously to the international security and stability as well as global peace. In 1999, the two countries forged a strategic partnership... So, Egypt has been the first Arab and African country to establish strategic partnership with China.

Since the start of the 21st century, Sino-Egyptian ties have gone further ahead. Bilateral trade reached around 6 billion US dollars in 2009, an eight-fold increase if it was compared to the related figure a decade ago. The Chinese-made goods are currently saturating markets in Egypt, whereas Egyptian marble, citrus, crystal goods and carpets are available in many Chinese homes.