CAIRO — China and Egypt have signed a series of energy accords.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed
Nazif signed oil and gas agreements during Wen's visit to Cairo on June 17.
The accords call for Chinese investment in Egypt's energy sector.
"Energy is an important backbone of Egypt's economy and we are willing
to collaborate with Egypt in the energy sector under an equal and reciprocal
basis," Wen said.
The agreements mark another step in strategic cooperation between
Beijing and Cairo. Officials said the two countries have increased
diplomatic, military and trade relations over the last two years. In 2005,
Chinese-Egyptian trade exceeded $2 billion, an increase of 36 percent from
the previous year.
Meanwhile,
China and Qatar have also agreed to expand military
cooperation.
Diplomatic sources said the two countries would examine the prospect of
joint military exercises and Chinese training to Qatar's military. The
sources said China would also offer military equipment to the Gulf emirate.
"The cooperation would not be significant, but it would expand China's
presence in the Gulf," a diplomat said.
On Tuesday, China and Qatar held military cooperation talks during the
visit to Beijing by Qatari Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Hamad Bin Ali Al
Attiyah. This was the first Qatari military delegation to visit China.
"The relations between China and Qatar have achieved continued progress
since the two nations forged diplomatic ties," Chinese Chief of Staff Gen.
Liang Guanglie said.
Liang said Beijing would seek to promote cooperation between the
militaries of China and Qatar. He did not elaborate.
For his part, Hamad was quoted by the official Chinese newspaper, the
People's Daily, that his visit would deepen mutual understanding. The Qatari
chief of staff said this would create a foundation for future cooperation
and military exchanges.
Hamad and his delegation held several days of talks that began on June
19. Diplomatic sources said they did not expect the signing of any formal
agreement. Qatar has been a leading ally of the United States, and Central
Command maintains two bases in the emirate.
China has sought to cooperate with several Gulf Cooperation Council
militaries. They include Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
