President Muhammed Hosni Mubarak of the Arab Republic of Egypt paid a state visit to China in April 1999 at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin of the People?s Republic of China. During his visit, the heads of state of the two countries had an in-depth exchange of views on major regional and international issues and on ways to enhance friendship and cooperation between the two countries at the turn of the century, and reached broad consensus. They signed a Joint Communique on the Establishment of a 21st Century-Oriented Strategic Cooperative Relationship. The Communique included mainly the following elements:


Heads of State of the two countries believed that the bilateral relations had all along enjoyed a healthy development since the establishment of diplomatic ties. The two countries were ready to build on what had been achieved, cooperate with each other more closely and develop the existing friendly relations and cooperation between them further at the dawn of the new century. The two sides agreed to maintain close contacts with each other so as to advance the bilateral relations step by step. President Mubarak invited President Jiang to visit Egypt again and President Jiang accepted the invitation with pleasure. The two sides also decided that their Foreign Ministers should meet at least once a year and that their Foreign Ministries, Permanent Missions to international organizations and diplomatic missions abroad should consult and coordinate with each other from time to time. The two sides agreed that economic cooperation and trade constituted an important component of the bilateral relations. They would work together to expand their economic ties and trade and take advantage of each other?s strength so that they would become each other?s important economic and trading partners. The two Governments would encourage more contacts between their respective companies and enterprises, promote mutual investment, enhance exchanges and cooperation in the industrial, agricultural, scientific, technical, tourism and other areas.


The two sides believed that the international situation was generally moving towards relaxation, but there still existed destabilizing factors. They decided to increase cooperation and make concerted efforts for the establishment of a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order under these circumstances. They stressed that it was important for the two influential developing countries of China and Egypt to work together for greater solidarity and closer cooperation among developing countries and for smaller gap between developed and developing countries.


The two sides emphasized that the UN resolutions concerning the Middle East question, the principle of land for peace and the implementation of the agreements already signed between Arabs and Israel should serve as the principles and basis for a settlement of the Middle East question. All the countries and peoples in that region should have the right to safeguard their security, independence, territorial integrity and national interests. The Palestinian people should also enjoy the right to self-determination and to establish an independent state on their land. Both China and Egypt should have the duty and obligations to promote and advance the Middle East peace process, to the benefit of all peoples in the region, by playing their respective unique role and exerting their influence. At the same time, they appealed to all countries in the Middle East to make vigorous efforts and take a serious attitude towards the negotiations with a view to making the region a zone without nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction. They also agreed to increase exchanges and cooperation in combating international terrorism.


The two sides supported African countries in their independent efforts to choose political systems and development roads suited to their own national conditions, and in their just struggle for independence and sovereignty and against foreign interference. They called on the international community to respect Africa and economically help it. They would encourage their government bodies in charge of African affairs, especially those in charge of economic ties, trade, scientific and technical cooperation with African countries, to enhance consultation and coordination so as to promote common development on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.


The two sides were in favour of reforming the UN Security Council. They were of the view that full consideration must be given to regional and geographical balance in enlarging the Security Council and developing countries must be ensured a fair representation in the organization so that the Security Council could effectively fulfill its primary responsibility for maintaining world peace and security.


A 21st century-oriented strategic cooperative relationship between China and Egypt would lay a foundation for their overall friendly relations and cooperation in all areas. This accords with the immediate and long-term interests of both peoples and is conducive to the promotion of solidarity and cooperation between developing countries.