Abd El Aziz Hamdi, consultant of Sino-Egyptian allied commerce council, is excited while talking with reporters about the just-ended Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC).

"In my view, this forum is a very important conference that promotes China and Africa to construct new style strategic partnership and strengthens the co-operation between China and the third world, such as Africa, and opens a new window of the Sino-African strategic partnership," Hamdi said on Sunday.

He said that although he was busy, he still spent much time on the Beijing summit through Chinese media as well as his friends and relatives in Beijing.

The two-day FOCAC summit, attended by leaders of China and 48 African countries, concluded in Beijing on Sunday afternoon with the adoption of the Beijing Action Plan (2007-09) and the Beijing Summit Declaration.

Like Hamdi, many Egyptians here have expressed their happiness and satisfaction over the holding of the FOCAC summit, hailing the sincere and friendly relations and co-operation between China and African countries, and with Egypt in particular.

China's aid package shows China pays much attention to its relationship with Africa. "China needs Africa and Africa needs China," Hamdi stressed.

Hassan Abu Taleib, professor of political science in Cairo University, said that the FOCAC Beijing summit is very important because it was held under the background that both Africa and China are facing new challenges and explored new arenas for Sino-African co-operation.

This co-operation is of mutual benefit, he said, rebutting some Western reports of China's "new colonization policy" towards Africa.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak attended the Beijing summit and is holding talks with President Hu Jintao this morning.

Egypt's state news agency MENA on Sunday covered Mubarak's attendance of the Beijing summit as well as Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit's participation in a press conference after the summit.

It quoted Mubarak as saying that the just-concluted FOCAC meetings are held at a crucial juncture of the two sides relations as they are celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.

Mubarak commended the achievements of China's economic reform, MENA said.

Local major newspapers Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar and The Egyptian Gazette also covered Mubarak's tour in Beijing and hailed China's aid to Africa.

China's new measures will promote economic and trade co-operation between the two sides and Egypt is keen to strengthen the three-side co-operation between Egypt, China and Africa, the Egyptian media noted.

China is becoming more and more important in the world, while Egypt is also an important country in the Arab world and Africa, said Hamid.

Source: China Daily