On the afternoon of November 6, 2009, at the invitation of Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Cairo by special plane for an official visit to Egypt. He will also attend the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Egyptian Prime Minister Nazef greeted Wen beside the ramp. A grand welcoming ceremony was held at the airport, when the Egyptian military band played the national anthems of the two countries. Accompanied by Nazef, Premier Wen inspected the Guard of Honor. Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Wu Chunhua, the staff of the embassy and representatives from overseas Chinese in Egypt also greeted Wen at the airport. Premier Wen’s entourage arrived by the same plane.

Wen gave an interview to the accompanying journalists aboard the special plane. He said Egypt is a big country in Africa and the Middle East and has great influence in Africa and the Arab world. It is also the first African and Arab country to establish strategic cooperative relations with China. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Egypt strategic cooperative relations. To further deepen China-Egypt ties not only serves the fundamental interest of the two sides, but also is of great significance to China-Africa and China-Arab relations. “I’m looking forward to meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Prime Minister Nazef respectively to exchange views on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern in an effort to enhance cooperation in bilateral issues as well as in international and regional affairs,” said Wen.

Wen said he will deliver a speech themed Respecting Diversity of Civilizations at the headquarters of the Arab League, elaborating on China’s policies and proposition on developing ties with Arab countries as well as principled positions on major regional issues.

Wen said the eight measures proposed at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) are by far China’s biggest aid package to Africa and will be completely fulfilled by the end of this year. Wen said he will work with African leaders at the meeting of the forum to summarize experience, review outcome and plan the future in a bid to push the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership to a new level.

Wen said the mentioning of Africa and its people will first remind him of cordial friendship and mutual assistance. The sense of closeness between the Chinese and African people has been continuously accumulated and developed over the past half a century. The most valuable thing is that despite the earthshaking changes in the world, China and Africa, China-Africa friendship remains unchanged. It is attributed to mutual respect and equality between both sides, which is the foundation and essence of China-Africa relations. Wen said it is with the friendly feelings towards African people as well as aspiration and confidence in deepening China-Africa cooperation that he once again went to Africa for a visit. He hoped that this tour will become a trip of promoting dialogue among civilizations and enhancing friendship and cooperation.