Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei announces:

At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will pay a state visit to China from August 28 to 30.

It will be President Morsi's first visit to China since taking office. China attaches high importance to the visit. Chinese leaders will have talks and meetings with him, exchanging views over bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest. During the visit, the two sides will sign a host of bilateral cooperation deals. It is believed that the visit will further push forward China-Egypt friendly and cooperative relations under the new circumstances.

Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with the new China. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have enjoyed long-term, sound and steady development, and friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been fruitful. The two sides have maintained close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs and conducted sound cooperation within the framework of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China is ready to work with the Egyptian side to elevate China-Egypt strategic and cooperative relations to a new high.