President Abdel Fattah El Sisi reiterated that Egypt intends to continue to provide technical support to South Sudan at all levels, to enable it to benefit from the Egyptian expertise and to push ahead development effort in various sectors including agriculture, irrigation, health and education. He added that Egypt will help South Sudan to launch an economic integration process that covers investment, trade, energy, infrastructure and petroleum.
President Sisi’s remarks came during his meeting on Wednesday with South Sudan Vice President James Wani Igga and the accompanying delegation, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli along with ministers of water resources and irrigation, higher education and scientific research, agriculture and land reclamation, and industry and trade, as well as the Head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS), Abbas Kamel.
The meeting discussed ways to activate and develop frameworks of bilateral co-operation between the two countries in various fields over the coming period. The two sides also exchanged views on developments of regional issues of common interest, especially Grand Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ambassador Radi added.
President Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering stance on the need to reach a legally binding agreement on filling and operation of the dam in a way that would preserve the interests of all parties, and maintain Egypt’s water security.
President Sisi conveyed his greetings to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, referring to his visit to Juba last November, Ambassador Radi said.
President Sisi welcomed convening the first session of Egypt-South Sudan Joint Higher Committee in Cairo, which reflects mutual interest in boosting bilateral ties, raising them to the level of a strategic developmental partnership, as a model to be followed by the Nile Basin countries.
The president referred to the first Egyptian products fair held in Juba this month, which would usher in an active and effective trade between both countries. He also pointed to establishing a branch of Egypt’s Alexandria University in South Sudan, Radi noted.
Meanwhile, President Sisi stressed that Egypt is keen to carry on with its endeavours at the regional and international levels to consolidate efforts to maintain stability, peace and security in South Sudan, as a key and an inevitable pillar for development.
For his part, the South Sudan vice president, conveyed President Kiir’s greetings to President Sisi, and expressed his appreciation of Egypt’s leadership and people. He hailed he continuous development in bilateral relations as a key pillar of development and progress in South Sudan.
VP Igga voiced gratitude to Egypt for providing humanitarian aid to people in South Sudan, amid the crises Juba witnessed lately including floods, the Covid pandemic, locust infestation, and the difficult economic conditions, Ambassador Radi said.
Igaa, in the meantime, reviewed the latest political developments at home, lauding Egypt’s efforts in support of stability in South Sudan, and the entire region, which are part of the historical bonds between the two countries, and Egypt’ leading role at the regional and the international levels.
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