Sisi and bin Salman sign economic agreements to increase Egyptian-Saudi cooperation

Today, at Cairo International Airport, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and held an expanded discussion session at the Federal Palace. El-Sisi stressed the depth and centrality of the strategic relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, especially in light of the threats facing the region. He stressed the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation to overcome the current delicate stage that the region and the Islamic world are going through.

The Egyptian President pointed out the mutual keenness to translate the historical relations and ties between the two countries, through strengthening bilateral institutional mechanisms, especially through the inauguration of the Egyptian-Saudi Supreme Coordination Council headed by President Sisi and the Saudi Crown Prince, to follow up on various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to constantly develop them.

The Saudi Crown Prince stressed the importance that the Kingdom attaches to strengthening bilateral relations, and continuing to build on the historical ties extending between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples, to achieve the common interest at the various political, economic and development levels.

The two leaders reviewed the ongoing efforts to develop the Egyptian-Saudi economic partnership, especially in the field of investment exchange, trade exchange between the two countries, and economic integration in the fields of energy, transportation, and tourism.

The discussions also touched on regional developments, most notably the situation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, where there was agreement on the seriousness of the regional situation and the necessity of stopping the escalation. The two leaders stressed that establishing a sovereign Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, is the only way to achieve calm, peace and security in the region in a sustainable manner.

The Egyptian President and the Saudi Crown Prince indicated that attempts to liquidate the Palestinian issue would cause a continuation of the state of conflict in the region.

In that context, the two leaders called for the initiation of steps for calm, including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon, addressing the deteriorating humanitarian conditions, and stopping brinkmanship policies in order to stop the expanding circle of conflict.

They stressed the need to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, stability and territorial integrity. The two leaders also discussed a number of regional issues, most notably the security of the Red Sea region, and the situation in Sudan, Libya and Syria.

At the end of the discussions, the Egyptian President and the Saudi Crown Prince witnessed the signing of the formation of the Egyptian-Saudi Supreme Coordination Council headed by President Sisi and the Saudi Crown Prince, and the agreement to encourage and protect mutual investments between the two countries.

Source: RT