MENA chairman urges closer ties with Xinhua

Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Middle East News Agency (MENA) Alaa Haidar on Tuesday said he was looking forward to strengthening cooperation with China's Xinhua News Agency and to start joint ventures.

Haidar made the remarks during a visit by Xinhua President Cai Mingzhao, leading a media delegation to MENA's headquarters in Cairo.

Among those ventures, MENA chairman proposed, is establishing an information center in cooperation with Xinhua, in which African, Arab, Asian and Mediterranean news agencies will take part.

"Egypt and China are aware of the importance of sharing information about the two countries and peoples through the national media outlets," Haidar said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Cairo on Wednesday as part of a Middle East tour that includes stops in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The relations between China and Egypt are becoming stronger and Egypt is a friend to the Chinese people despite the very long distance between the two countries, Cai said.

The Chinese president's visit to Cairo reflects Egypt's position and leverage in the Middle East, asserting that the visit will promote the bilateral ties, he noted.