Feature: Egypt joyfully awaits "great, friendly" Chinese president

"It's going to be like a festival when our nation welcomes the Chinese president," Egyptian photographer Izaq Hanah told Xinhua in downtown Cairo on Tuesday, a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for a three-day visit.

Along the main streets around the landmark Tahrir Square in central Cairo are fluttering Chinese and Egyptian national flags. Meanwhile, local newspapers front-paged with Xi's photo and his signed article are displayed in the most noticeable place at newspaper stands, big and small, in city alleys.

"I knew about the Chinese president's visit three days ago, and I am looking forward to that. He (President Xi) is a great and friendly man," said Hanah. "And I know the relationship between Egypt and China is very good."

Bilateral relations were lifted to a comprehensive strategic partnership, when Xi received visiting Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Beijing in 2014. The two leaders met again when Sisi was in Beijing to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

As China and Egypt celebrate this year the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties, Xi's visit is set to breathe new life into the friendly exchanges between the two peoples, which, according to the Chinese president, date back to more than 2,000 years ago.

In his signed article published on Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper, Xi hailed Egypt as "the gift of the Nile," saying that he was "marveled at the Nile... and was amazed by the wisdom and strength of the Egyptian people."

The Chinese culture, for its part, has inspired the Egyptian people as well, and seems to be continuing doing so.

At Tahrir Square, an Egyptian student from Cairo's Ain Shams University proudly showed Xinhua his collection of Chinese books from his schoolbag. Among them was "Zhijiang Xinyu" (New words of Zhijiang), a book compiling Xi's political thoughts when he served as the party chief of China's Zhejiang province from 2002 to 2007.

The young man, identifying himself as Mohamed, said he also has a Chinese name Wang Shuai, and that he started to learn the Chinese language three months ago.

The desire for the exchange of cultures and minds, such as in this young man, is likely to form a sound basis for productive collaboration between the two civilizations in the future.

Mohamed Mustafa, 22, said it is urgent for Egypt to learn from China,particularly China's experiences in setting up a good system.

Egypt has just gone through a difficult period, he said. "Now, everything is turning for the better for our country, and we hope that China can help us."

The Chinese president has indeed much to offer. In his signed article, Xi further introduced his signature "Belt and Road" initiative, inviting regional countries in the Middle East to expand cooperation with China in such areas as energy, trade and investment, infrastructure and high technology so as to achieve common prosperity.

"China welcomes Egypt and other Arab countries to get on board the fast train of its development, and hopes that our respective development and growth could be well aligned and mutually reinforcing," Xi wrote.

Experts on Middle East estimated that the "Belt and Road" initiative may help generate more jobs for populous countries in the region, while assisting smaller economies in building service platforms with characteristics like financial centers, clearance centers, air transit hubs and trade ports.

Majdi Amer, Egyptian Ambassador to China, told Xinhua earlier that with China's proposal of common development, Egypt can export more to China and receive more tourists from China.

"People from many countries -- China, Germany, America and Britain, were afraid to come to Egypt in the past years. But we are stable now," said 55-year-old Abdulah Haroun, who runs a papyrus shop.

"If I were given the chance, I would tell the Chinese president that I wish him to bring more Chinese tourists to Egypt," Haroun said in a jubilant mood. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Meng Na, Geng Xuepeng, Pang Xinglei also contributed to the stor