Cairo, Egypt -  Assistant Egyptian foreign minister for African affairs, Ambassador Mona Omar, told local papers on Wednesday that China was committed to its pledge not to engage in dam construction projects on the Nile River without the consent of all Nile Basin States. On arrival from China, where she led an Egyptian delegation to the eighth senior officials meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Omar said the Chinese government had repeated its vows not to participate in dam projects on the Nile that could harm Egypt's interests. Tension between downstream and upstream Nile Basin countries regarding water rights, has eased since the 25 January revolution in Egypt.

Cairo, led by the interim military council after the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarak, who was perceived as dealing 'arrogantly' with neighbouring States, has agreed with Addis Ababa to open a new chapter of relations based on cooperation that will lead to a win-win situation for all Nile Basin countries, who share a common future and one destiny.

The recent FOCAC meeting discussed the implementation of a working plan outlined in the fourth ministerial conference of FOCAC held in Egypt's Sharm Al-Sheikh in 2009.

There have been four summits held to date, with the most recent in Sharm Al-Sheikh.

Previous summits were held in 2000 in Beijing, 2003 in Addis Ababa, and 2006 in Beijing.

The fifth ministerial meeting of the FOCAC will be held in 2012 in Beijing.

Since co-chairing the FOCAC, Egypt has been playing an active role to bring closer African and Chinese points of view.

Pana 03/11/2011