President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met on Thursday with King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty, according to Presidential Spokesman Mohamed el Shennawy.
An official welcoming ceremony was held at the palace courtyard, where the Belgian monarch received President Sisi and escorted him to his private office, the spokesman said.
The two leaders posed for a photo op before the meeting, said Shennawy.
King Philippe welcomed President Sisi, voicing appreciation for his visit, which he said reflected the longstanding and deep-rooted ties between Egypt and Belgium, according to the spokesman.
The king praised recent progress in political consultation and coordination between the two countries, and commended Egypt’s intensive mediation efforts, led by President Sisi, to help broker a ceasefire in Gaza, adding that such efforts were vital for regional stability and peace, he said.
The Egyptian president, for his part, thanked the Belgian monarch for the warm welcome and lauded Belgium’s principled stance and King Philippe’s personal support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, noting Belgium’s recognition of the State of Palestine, the spokesman added.
Talks also covered regional developments, with both sides underscoring the need to resolve crises through peaceful means that safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, he said.
Sisi invited King Philippe to attend the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on November 1, saying the king’s presence would carry special significance given the Belgian royal family’s and public’s longstanding interest in ancient Egyptian civilization, according to he spokesman.
The president also voiced Egypt’s aspiration to boost tourist arrivals from Belgium, Shennawy added.
The two leaders discussed ways to expand Belgian investments in Egypt, capitalizing on the country’s strategic advantages and promising opportunities and to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors, said the spokesman.
King Philippe praised Present Sisi’s commitment to advancing bilateral ties, saying the Belgian people valued Egypt’s pivotal role in promoting stability in the Middle East and the southern Mediterranean, Shennawy said.
He also stressed the importance of joint efforts between governments to address challenges and meet the aspirations of both nations’ peoples, he added.
