CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi asserted on Monday that Egypt and Djibouti have extended strategic relations on all fronts backed by the strong political will of both sides.
Addressing a joint press conference with his Djibouti counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh, President Sisi welcomed his guest and asserted that his visit to Cairo comes in continuation of contacts and coordination between the two countries at the bilateral and regional levels.
Sisi said it also aims at following up on the brotherly consultations held between him and Guelleh while he visited Djibouti in May.
Sisi also asserted that both sides are keen on boosting their ties further, adding that the past phase has witnessed important categorical steps in the economic, political fields among others.
Speaking a joint press conference with his Djibouti counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh, Sisi termed talks with Guelleh as “frank and transparent”, reflecting an rapprochement in viewpoints on a set of issues at the bilateral and regional levels.
Talks covered economic, trade and investment relations and means of further promoting them to be up to the level of the distinguished political relations binding the two countries, Sisi added.
Sisi went on to say that he discussed with Guelleh the progress achieved in the cooperation projects between the two countries and the need for extending more support to joint investments along with the contribution of the Egyptian companies to economic development efforts underway in Djibouti. He also said Banque Misr will soon open a branch for it in Djibouti, adding that they also covered the efforts to establish an Egyptian logistic area in the sisterly Arab country country.
The Egyptian president also said talks covered operating a direct flight between Cairo and Djibouti, in addition to joint cooperation in the fields of education and health and combating extremist thoughts and spreading the moderate values of Islam.
Sisi made it clear that he discussed with Guelleh the latest developments in the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam, asserting that Egypt has a strong political will that aims at reaching out to a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam within an appropriate timeframe so as to enhance regional security and stability.
Talks also covered the regional conditions in the Horn of Africa region, the Red Sea security along with the priorities of cooperation in the coming period, Sisi noted.
Sisi also said they covered Egypt’s hosting of the 27th round of UN Climate Change Conference, due to be held in November 2022.
At the end of the press conference, Sisi voiced gratitude to Guelleh over his visit to Cairo and the constructive talks they held as part of their joint keenness on beefing up bilateral ties that achieve the common interests of both peoples.