Saudi Crown Prince, Egypt's Sisi Hold Official Talks in Cairo

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sisi hold talks in Cairo. (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sisi hold talks in Cairo. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Egypt's Sisi Hold Official Talks in Cairo

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sisi hold talks in Cairo. (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sisi hold talks in Cairo. (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held official talks in Cairo on Tuesday.

They discussed the strategic bilateral relations that bind their countries and ways to develop them in various fields.

They covered a number of Middle East developments and issues related to regional security and stability, as well as counter-terrorism efforts.

A statement from the Egyptian presidency said talks focused on bilateral relations and efforts to bolster economic and investment ties.

They tackled the inauguration of more joint projects given the promising investment opportunities boasted by their countries.

They also underscored the importance of the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council summit that will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in July and attended by the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and the United States.

A joint statement after their talks said the leaders focused on bolstering their economic and investment relations and elevating them to new levels.

They stressed support to the nationwide Yemen truce, condemning attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militias against civilians and their threat to international marine routes.

They also expressed their backing to the new Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis.

They urged the need to reach a comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by implementing the two-state solution.

They stressed support for the formation of a new Iraqi government that can achieve the nation’s stability and security and efforts to ensure the success of the transitional process in Sudan.

They called on Iran to commit to international resolutions and principles and refrain from meddling in the affairs of Arab countries.

Iran must cease all destabilizing activities in the region and support to armed militias and threats to marine navigation, they demanded, according to the statement.

Crown Prince Mohammed had arrived in Cairo on Monday, the first stop of a tour of region that will take him to Jordan and Turkey.



Egyptian Government Approves Formation of Higher Coordination Council with Saudi Arabia

The formation of the Higher Coordination Council reflects the level of partnership between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The formation of the Higher Coordination Council reflects the level of partnership between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egyptian Government Approves Formation of Higher Coordination Council with Saudi Arabia

The formation of the Higher Coordination Council reflects the level of partnership between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The formation of the Higher Coordination Council reflects the level of partnership between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

In an effort to strengthen the partnership between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the Egyptian government approved on Wednesday the establishment of a higher joint coordination council.

On September 10, 2024, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty held a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, during which he announced that the two countries were in the final stages of launching the Egyptian-Saudi Higher Coordination Council, chaired by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He emphasized that the council would serve as a comprehensive framework for deepening bilateral relations and fostering collaboration in politics, economics, trade, development, and investment, aligning with the interests of both nations’ peoples.

In its Wednesday session, Egypt’s Cabinet approved the decision to establish the council. According to a government statement, the body will seek to “intensify communication and enhance cooperation between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in areas of mutual interest.”

The council, as outlined by the statement, will include ministers and officials from both countries covering relevant sectors. It will convene regular meetings alternately in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, with provisions for extraordinary meetings as needed.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ayman Mohseb, deputy chairman of the Arab Affairs Committee in Egypt’s House of Representatives, said that the move reflects the advanced level of partnership between the two nations, describing the council as a “cornerstone for activating relations and expanding cooperation in various fields.”

“This step will significantly advance cooperation across diverse domains, driven by the political will of the two countries’ leaderships,” Mohsab said, adding that the new body would facilitate coordination between Cairo and Riyadh on a wide range of regional issues and areas of mutual interest.

During a meeting with Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan on Tuesday, El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s “pride in its historic relations with Saudi Arabia, both at the leadership and popular levels, and across all sectors.”