Egyptian official hails China's rapid development

CAIRO, March 2 (Xinhua) -- China's social and economic development has been very rapid, with its national strength and the living standards of its people rising steadily in recent years, an Egyptian official said Sunday.

Hussein El-Kamel, the international cooperation advisor at the Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), made the remarks during a seminar on China's economic development.

Kamel hailed China's policy of scientific and sustainable development, saying that he believes it will become one of the world's most powerful countries by 2030, a situation Egypt welcomes.

"China respects its people's opinions, especially those of farmers, and has attached great importance to development in the rural areas," he said.

Egypt expects greater cooperation with China in the fields of technology, banking and logistics, as well as in efforts to promote the common development of national and private sectors, he said.

Cao Jiachang, the commercial counselor at the Chinese embassy in Cairo and the seminar's keynote speaker, reviewed China's social and economic achievements since it first adopted the policy of reform and opening up in 1978.

He commented on the complementary nature of the Chinese and Egyptian economies, noting that the bilateral trade volume reached 4.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2007, an annual increase of 44 percent.

Cao hoped the two countries will continue to develop their traditional friendship, and boost economic and trade cooperation.

Around 20 officials from the IDSC, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy attended the seminar.