Egypt’s Sisi Meets with Business Leaders on 3rd Day in France

French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
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Egypt’s Sisi Meets with Business Leaders on 3rd Day in France

French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi met Wednesday with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on the third day of his official visit to France.

Sisi also met with a dozen business leader before heading back to his residence in Paris to receive the Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD.)

Several French companies, including oil giant Total and underground metro operator RATP, were hoping to secure future deals.

Sisi’s visit is focusing on economic cooperation and the fight against extremism.

On Tuesday, the Egyptian president held talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. They discussed the crisis in Libya, Egypt's chaotic North African neighbor, and the war in Syria.

The anti-terrorism file was strongly present in the talks between the Egyptian delegation and French officials.

France has reaffirmed its support to Egypt as a key country to stabilize the troubled region.

Macron was keen to emphasize the “common battle” between Paris and Cairo, noting that France “stands by Egypt because the security of this country is also our security.”

Sisi, for his part, stressed that terrorism was the biggest challenge facing growth and development in his country.



China’s Foreign Minister Warns Philippines over US Missile Deployment

 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
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China’s Foreign Minister Warns Philippines over US Missile Deployment

 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned the Philippines over the US intermediate-range missile deployment, saying such a move could fuel regional tensions and spark an arms race.

The United States deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of joint military drills earlier this year. It was not fired during the exercises, a Philippine military official later said, without giving details on how long it would stay in the country.

China-Philippines relations are now at a crossroads and dialogue and consultation are the right way, Wang told the Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Friday during a meeting in Vientiane, the capital of Laos where top diplomats of world powers have gathered ahead of two summits.

Wang said relations between the countries are facing challenges because the Philippines has "repeatedly violated the consensus of both sides and its own commitments", according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

"If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race, which is completely not in line with the interests and wishes of the Filipino people," Wang said.

The Philippines' military and its foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wang's remarks.

China and the Philippines are locked in a confrontation in the South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to disputed shoals in waters within Manila's its exclusive economic zone.

Wang said China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation, referring to the Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine vessels on Saturday successfully completed their latest mission to the shoal unimpeded, its foreign ministry said in a statement.