Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received a high-level delegation of US Congress members form the Democratic and Republican parties, including Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in addition to a number of officials and members of committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri.
Presidency spokesman Counselor Ahmed Fahmy said that President Sisi’s meeting with the US Congress members stressed the strength of decades-long strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States and the importance the two countries attach to enhancing their relations at the official, parliamentary and popular levels.
This comes especially in light of a turbulent regional and international situation and the growing challenges and crises regarding food, energy and funding, which affected many countries worldwide.
President Sisi and the Congress members held an open dialogue, where they discussed means of strengthening the bilateral relations, especially at the economic level and enhancing the investments of American companies in Egypt.
The meeting highlighted the comprehensive development efforts underway in Egypt, especially in terms of modernising infrastructure and establishing new cities.
The meeting also shed light on Egypt’s development efforts in the sectors of oil, gas, renewable and green energy and agricultural land reclamation.
Also, the two sides discussed Egypt’s efforts to combat terrorism and extremist ideology, promote human rights and establish the values of religious tolerance, the culture of coexistence and citizenship principles.
Meanwhile, the two sides discussed the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its geopolitical and economic repercussions as well as ways to enhance international peace and security.
The talks also tackled regional developments, especially in Sudan, Libya and Syria.
The two sides agreed on the importance of speeding up political solutions to these crises in a way that preserves the unity of states, the integrity of their territories and their people’s resources.
The meeting emphasised the importance of the positive and vital Egyptian role in this regard.
The meeting also tackled the developments in the ongoing negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). President Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to reaching a legally-binding agreement that puts into consideration the interests of the three countries.
Among the issues discussed was the Palestinian cause. In this regard, the US delegation praised Egypt’s pivotal role in laying and consolidating the foundations for peace in the Middle East.
For his part, President Sisi stressed Egypt’s firm stance regarding the necessity to advance international efforts to reach a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people.
This solution must ensure the establishment of the Palestinian independent state in accordance with the relevant international legitimacy resolutions in a way that opens broad horizons for lasting peace, security, peaceful coexistence and prosperity for all peoples of the region, the president added.
