Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. /APC
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh met on Monday to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues of common interest.
During a joint press conference in Cairo, Sisi said that Guelleh’s visit was part of the continuity of communication and coordination between the two countries at different bilateral and regional levels, and a follow-up of the results of their consultations during Sissi’s visit to Djibouti last May.
“This opening underlines the long-standing strategic relations that unite our two countries at all levels,” Sisi said, noting that bilateral relations over the past period have seen significant advances in all political and economic fields.
The talks were characterized by openness and transparency which reflect the two countries’ consensus on many bilateral and regional issues, the Egyptian president added.
“We discussed all aspects of the ongoing cooperation between the two countries, including economic, trade and investment, as well as ways to further advance them in a way that suits the distinguished political relations between our countries. two countries,” he said.
The two sides agreed on the importance of the support needed to stimulate mutual investment, the contribution of Egyptian companies to economic development efforts in Djibouti and the efforts to open a branch of Bank Misr there.
“We stressed the need to strengthen our efforts to increase the volume of trade between the two countries and establish an Egyptian logistics zone in Djibouti,” Sissi said, noting that they also discussed efforts to foster closer cooperation. closely in the areas of transport and port connectivity. , as well as efforts to establish direct flights between Cairo and Djibouti City.
The two presidents also exchanged views on joint cooperation in education and health.
Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to provide persistent support to Djibouti, provide training and build capacity in various fields.
Sisi said he also discussed the development of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance (GERD) dam, underscoring Egypt’s political will to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam within an appropriate time frame.