Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's upcoming official visit to Turkey, Egypt and Kenya is of great importance in the current international and regional situation marked by considerable changes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Thursday.
The visit will boost the friendship and cooperation between China and the three countries, Zhang said at a press conference.
During the visit, Zhu will exchange views with leaders of the three countries on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern.
They will concentrate on how to further the friendship and cooperation in various fields between China and the three countries in the new century, she added.
On the relations between China and the three countries, Zhang said that the Turkish government attaches great importance to the development of Sino-Turkish relations, and the bilateral ties have developed smoothly in recent years in both the political and trade fields.
Zhu's visit will focus on the possibility of promoting cooperation between the two countries in various fields, she said.
Zhang said Egypt was one of the first Arabian and African nations to set up diplomatic ties with China, and bilateral relations have seen smooth growth.
Sino-Egyptian cooperation in various fields has become more intensive since China and Egypt set up strategic cooperative relations oriented to the 21st century in 1999. Egyptian President Muhammed Hosni Mubarak's successful visit to China in January this year brought more significant improvement in bilateral relations.
During the visit, Zhu will exchange views with Mubarak and other Egyptian leaders on how to further the relations between the two countries, Zhang said.
China and Kenya enjoy long-term friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries has progressed well. The Chinese government will continue to improve Sino-Kenyan relations, especially in the field of trade and investment cooperation, the spokeswoman said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2002)
