The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) begins its Fifth annual conference later today with a total of 2,700 delegates participating. On the first day, NDP chairman President Hosni Mubarak is expected to address the 3-day gathering convened under the banner "A New Style of Thinking for the Future of Our Country," focusing on the challenges facing Egypt. Mubarak's speech is to outline the party's vision and strategy in dealing with the global food and financial crisis. A day would be devoted to the impact of global financial meltdown on Egypt, Gamal Essam el-Din, an Egyptian journalist specialized in parliamentary affairs told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). NDP Secretary-General Safwat el-Sherif will then address the Conference with a speech reviewing the party's performance over the past 12 months. The conference will also review progress made towards implementing President Mubarak's 2005 presidential election programme. Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif is scheduled to deliver a speech on Sunday highlighting the government's success in implementing the programme three years after it was announced in the summer of 2005.
