20110426
reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Tuesday it will send its Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to Egypt in a show of support, marking Beijing's first big diplomatic foray into building ties with new governments emerging from upheaval across the Arab world.

Yang will visit the United Arab Emirates for a regional forum, and then go to Egypt, Serbia, Switzerland and Russia in a whirlwind tour from May 1 to 7, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei. Hong could not give a precise date for the Egypt leg of Yang's trip.

China kept close ties with Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak, who was thrown out after a wave of protests crippled his government. But Hong made clear that Beijing wants to focus now on building bridges with Egypt's emerging leaders, who have formed a military-led government.

"This visit is happening after west Asia and north Africa have undergone some changes," Hong said with some understatement at a regular news conference.

"China supports the efforts that Egypt has made towards domestic stability, promoting economic development, and achieving a stable transition," he said.

"We have been and will continue to provide Egypt with what help we can."

Yang will also visit the United Arab Emirates for a meeting with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said Hong.