BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak Tuesday pledged to further strengthen bilateral strategic cooperative relations as the two countries are celebrating 50-year-old official ties.

The two leaders said they are satisfied with the great progress of their relations over the past five decades and agreed to enhance political relations, economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges, and improve coordination in international and regional affairs.

Calling China-Egypt relations "good example" of South-South cooperation, Hu said Chinese and Egyptian peoples have always supported each other and shared deep trust in the their struggle for national sovereignty and economic development.

Hu especially extolled Mubarak's efforts in promoting to bilateral relations, saying Mubarak, a "close friend" of the Chinese people, who had deep friendship with several generations of Chinese leaders, has made "outstanding" contributions to the development of China-Egypt ties.

Mubarak arrived in China last Friday for a ninth visit to China and for a historic Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Hu also highlighted bilateral trade, saying the two should join hands to tap economic cooperation potential, especially in fields of telecommunications, transportation and textile.

Egypt established diplomatic ties with China on May 30, 1956, leading all other African and Arab countries in doing so. Bilateral trade hit 2.145 billion U.S. dollars in 2005.