Senior Chinese official Li Shulei has called for strengthened cooperation with Egypt in culture, tourism, media, publishing and think tanks, urging efforts to make China-Egypt cooperation a model of exchange and mutual learning between civilizations.

Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during his visit to Egypt from Saturday to Tuesday.

He noted that both China and Egypt are ancient civilizations and the friendship between the two peoples has a long history, adding that the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership has flourished under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders.

China is ready to work with Egypt to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate high-level political mutual trust, promote high-quality cooperation and enhance coordination on international and regional affairs, Li said.

He also noted that China is willing to join hands with the Arab League to carry forward the spirit of China-Arab friendship and continue to advance the "leapfrog development" of China-Arab relations.

During his visit to Egypt, Li met with Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives Hanafy Ali Gebaly, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Ahmed Saad El-Din Mohamed Abd El-Rehim, leader of the Nation's Future Party of Egypt and first deputy speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives.

Li also met with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.

During the meetings, the Egyptian officials said that China is the sincerest friend and partner of Egypt and other African countries, expressing gratitude for China's long-standing support. They said that Egypt firmly upholds the one-China principle and strongly supports China in achieving national reunification.

Egypt is willing to strengthen the alignment of its development strategies with China, expand practical cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, new energy and high technology, enhance dialogue between civilizations and people-to-people exchanges and deepen coordination and collaboration in multilateral settings, in order to benefit both countries and their peoples and safeguard the common interests of developing nations, they stressed.

Aboul-Gheit said that the Arab League is willing to play an active role in ensuring the successful hosting of the second China-Arab States Summit and in promoting the building of an Arab-China community with a shared future.

Xinhua