June 18, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427

CAIRO, June 17: Egypt and China signed 11 trade, business and cooperation agreements on Saturday as Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao began an African tour which concentrates on energy supplies and economic relations.

In ceremonies at the office of Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, officials and business people from the countries signed deals to manufacture communications equipment, cooperate in the oil and gas sectors, simplify some import procedures and rehabilitate a large Chinese-built conference centre in Cairo.

Wen's visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China.

On arrival in Cairo, Wen said that relations had stood the test of time and international transformations.

China is a growing exporter to Egypt, with Chinese vehicles now starting to appear in the market, but the volume of trade with China is still much smaller than trade with the United States and the big European economies.

The agreements signed on Saturday include one between partially privatised state company Telecom Egypt and the Chinese company Huawei Technologies to manufacture CDMA wireless local loop terminals.

An official document described the energy deal as a framework agreement on cooperation in oil and natural gas.

Egypt is becoming a significant exporter of liquefied natural gas to Europe and the United States but not yet to Asia.—Reuters