Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the achievements of Egypt under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Egyptian presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said on Thursday.

The Chinese president greeted President Sisi on the convening of the parliamentary sessions, affirming China's full support to the will and choices of the Egyptian people, the spokesman added.

China appreciates Egypt's effective role at regional and international levels, as well as its keenness on achieving regional peace and stability, he said.

The talks dwelt in detail on ways to enhance cooperation relations in the various domains as President Sisi asserted Egypt's stance in support of the Chinese president's initiative to revive the Silk Road, the spokesman said, noting that the initiative enhances economic cooperation and trade exchange between China and Arab and African states.

The Chinese president lauded Egyptian efforts to achieve an integration between the Silk Road initiative and projects to develop the Suez Canal area, the spokesman said.

Some 100 Chinese companies, with dlrs 2.5 billion worth of investments, are involved in the second phase of the Chinese industrial zone in the Suez Canal area, he added.

China supports the development process in Egypt and infrastructure projects in the country, the spokesman quoted the Chinese president as having said.

China is keen on financing a number of development projects, offering the know-how for a number projects and encouraging Chinese companies to take part in the projects being carried out in Egypt, he added.

China also supports tourism in Egypt and urges export of agricultural products from Egypt, he said.

For his part, President Sisi, during Thursday's talks with his Chinese counterpart, affirmed Egypt's keenness on maintaining comprehensive strategic relations with China.

He also praised the level of relations maintained between China and the Arab countries.

Terrorism-combat efforts and ways to settle regional issues on Palestine, Libya, Syria and Yemen, were also high on the agenda of talks, the spokesman said.

Both sides also discussed ways to coordinate stance in the various international forums, especially in light of Eygpt's non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, he added.

By the end of talks, President Sisi and his Chinese counterpart witnessed the signing of 21 agreements and memorandums of understanding in the various domains, including an executive program on comprehensive strategic relations in the coming five years, the spokesman said.

The two leaders also launched the second phase of the Chinese industrial zone in the Suez Canal area.

Source: MENA