China's top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived in Luxor, some 680 km south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, on Friday afternoon to start his official and goodwill visit to Egypt.

Wu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said in a written speech upon his arrival that Egypt is the first African and Arabian country who forged diplomatic relations with China, and two nations support each other and work together closely in the past half of the century.

The development and consolidation of the bilateral ties serves to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, which is also conducive to the development of the China-Africa relations, the peace and prosperity of the world, Wu noted

During his visit, Wu is expected to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, House Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour, Prime Minister Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Nazef, and Speaker of the Egyptian Advisory Council Safwat Muhammad Yousuf el-Sharif. The two sides will exchange views on the bilateral ties and issues of common concern.

Wu is also scheduled to deliver a speech on China-Africa relations at a China-Africa business seminar and sign a memorandum on the establishment of a regular exchange mechanism between the two parliaments with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Fathi Sorour.

Egypt is the first leg of Wu's three-nation tour to Africa and Europe, which will also take him to Hungary and Poland.

Source: Xinhua