The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, has on Tuesday arrived in Egypt on an official visit. At the Cairo International Airport, the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, warmly received the Saudi Crown Prince and accompanied him to Al Itihadiyah Palace, where an official reception was held before initiating talks.
In addition to strengthening the Saudi-Egyptian relations, the visit aims to address regional issues. It came at a time of heightened tensions in the region, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and the recent developments in Lebanon.
Saudi-Egyptian Relations
At Al Itihadiyah Palace, Crown Prince bin Salman and President Al-Sisi held a bilateral meeting. They discussed issues of common concern and ways to enhance economic cooperation.
After that, both leaders held an extensive session of talks, with the attendance of the Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, and both countries’ delegations.
During the session, President Al-Sisi emphasized the depth and centrality of the strategic relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, particularly against the threats facing the region.
Furthermore, Al-Sisi emphasized the importance of joint coordination and cooperation to navigate the current critical juncture in the region and the Islamic world.
Strengthening Economic Ties
The Egyptian President highlighted the mutual desire to build upon the historical bonds between Saudi Arabia and Egypt through enhancing bilateral institutional mechanisms.
In the light of this, both leaders inaugurated the Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council, chaired by the Saudi Crown Prince and the Egyptian President.
The Supreme Coordination Council is a major stride towards enhancing bilateral relations through concerting efforts across various fields, including economy, trade and investment.
Moreover, the meeting witnessed the signing of the Agreement on the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, to streamline the investment process for Saudi and Egyptian companies in both countries.
Emphasizing Significance of Relations
The Saudi Crown Prince emphasized that the Kingdom prioritizes enhancing relations with Egypt and building on the extended historical ties between the two nations and their brotherly peoples, to achieve the common interest across the political, economic and development fields.
In the light of this, both leaders reviewed the ongoing efforts to develop the Saudi-Egyptian economic partnership, especially in investment exchange, bilateral trade, and economic integration in the fields of energy, transportation, and tourism.
Regional Issues
During their talks, the Saudi Crown Prince and the Egyptian President discussed the recent regional developments, including the situation in Gaza and Lebanon. Both leaders agreed on the gravity of the regional situation and the urgency of de-escalation.
Furthermore, Crown Prince bin Salman and President Al-Sisi stressed that the only path to achieving enduring peace and security in the region is the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, in accordance with international resolutions. They also noted that attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause would prolong the conflict in the region.
A Call for De-escalation
Given this, both leaders called for initiating steps to de-escalate tensions, including a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, addressing the worsening humanitarian conditions, and tracking back from the brinkmanship policies, in order to prevent the widening of conflict. They also affirmed the need to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and regional integrity.
Moreover, the Saudi Crown Prince and the Egyptian President discussed a number of regional issues, including the Red Sea security, and the situations in Sudan, Libya and Syria.