CAIRO: Saudi authorities on Wednesday provided details of high-level discussions and agreements for enhanced relations and cooperation with Egypt in various sectors.
It followed an official visit to the North African nation by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the previous day, during which he held wide-ranging talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
During their meeting, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, the leaders emphasized the historical ties between their nations and their commitment to further cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The wide-ranging topics they discussed including economic collaborations, regional stability and the global energy market. They also signed a formal agreement for the Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council, which aims to strengthen relations in a number of fields, including trade, defense and technology.
They praised previous diplomatic initiatives and visits, saying they helped to expand the scope of cooperation between their nations.
El-Sisi congratulated the crown prince on Riyadh’s successful bid to host the Expo 2030 and expressed appreciation of Saudi support for Egypt’s Vision 2030 plan.
A key focus of the talks was the growing economic ties between their countries, the SPA said. Saudi Arabia is Egypt’s second-largest trading partner and the volume of trade between the nations reached $8.4 billion in the first half of 2024, an increase of 41 percent compared with the same period the previous year.
Both sides expressed their commitment to overcoming any challenges so that trade relations can be strengthened further.
They emphasized the importance of diversification of economic cooperation, particularly in sectors such as energy, transportation, logistics, technology and agriculture.
The signing of an investment-protection agreement is expected to foster additional growth by encouraging increased investment in particularly promising sectors.
On the issue of energy cooperation, the leaders pledged that they will continue to work together on a project to link the Saudi and Egyptian power grids, described as the largest electrical-interconnection project in the region. They also emphasized the importance of ensuring the stability of global oil markets, and praised joint efforts by their countries in the fields of renewable energy, hydrogen technology and energy efficiency.
Turning to defense, the president and the crown prince reiterated their commitment to enhanced security cooperation to help combat terrorism, drug trafficking and threats to cybersecurity.
Their talks also covered efforts to tackle hate speech and extremism, and they emphasized their shared values of moderation and tolerance. They also expressed a desire for greater collaboration in efforts to combat crime in all its forms, and to enhance border security.
The leaders discussed several pressing regional issues, including the continuing conflict in Gaza. They condemned the ongoing attacks by Israeli forces, expressed deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in the territory, and called for an immediate ceasefire followed by a lasting truce.
They stressed the important need to ensure the principles of international law are observed to help protect civilians, and reiterated their support for a two-state solution to the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
They also addressed the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with both leaders expressing concern about the growing Israeli aggression there.
They called for the full implementation of all international resolutions to help stabilize the situation and prevent the escalation and spread of the conflict to the wider region.
Regarding the conflict in Yemen, both leaders reaffirmed their support for the nation’s Presidential Leadership Council, called for a comprehensive political solution to restore stability, and urged the Houthis to engage with the peace process.
They also praised the ongoing humanitarian efforts there, and emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and security in the Red Sea region, which is vital for global trade.
The president and the crown prince expressed support for peace talks in war-torn Sudan in an effort to achieve a ceasefire and resolve the ongoing conflict between rival military factions in the country.
They reaffirmed their commitment to efforts to combat climate change, with Egypt supporting Saudi Arabia’s circular carbon economy approach, and Saudi Arabia praising Egypt’s leadership of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in 2022.
The leaders said it is important to focus on emission reductions and the use of sustainable practices to help meet global climate goals.
Innovation and technological cooperation were among the other prominent topics during the discussions, particularly as they relate to fields such as artificial intelligence, space and clean energy. Both leaders expressed a commitment to localization of energy-sector operations and the sharing of expertise to benefit both economies.
At the conclusion of his visit, the crown prince thanked the Egyptian president for the warm welcome and hospitality he received, and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to enhancing relations with Egypt.
