Protecting Biodiversity an Important Environmental Challenge, Says Egypt's Environment Minister

A western reef heron (Egretta gularis), also known as a western reef egret, stands in the water at the site of a state-sponsored mangrove reforestation project in the Hamata area south of Marsa Alam along Egypt's southern Red Sea coast on September 16, 2022. (AFP)
A western reef heron (Egretta gularis), also known as a western reef egret, stands in the water at the site of a state-sponsored mangrove reforestation project in the Hamata area south of Marsa Alam along Egypt's southern Red Sea coast on September 16, 2022. (AFP)
TT

Protecting Biodiversity an Important Environmental Challenge, Says Egypt's Environment Minister

A western reef heron (Egretta gularis), also known as a western reef egret, stands in the water at the site of a state-sponsored mangrove reforestation project in the Hamata area south of Marsa Alam along Egypt's southern Red Sea coast on September 16, 2022. (AFP)
A western reef heron (Egretta gularis), also known as a western reef egret, stands in the water at the site of a state-sponsored mangrove reforestation project in the Hamata area south of Marsa Alam along Egypt's southern Red Sea coast on September 16, 2022. (AFP)

Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad stressed that protecting migratory birds and biodiversity is one of the global and regional environmental challenges that Egypt is keen to address during the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27).

She made her remarks at the opening of the regional conference organized by Birdlife International, in cooperation with the Migratory Soaring Birds Project of the Ministry of Environment, under the title “Safe Flyways: Conference on Energy and Birds” from October 8 to 10, reported the United Arab Emirates' state news agency (WAM).

The conference aims to document relations and mutual understanding between the energy sector and nature conservation organizations along the African-Eurasian migration path in order to strengthen the relationship, understanding, and partnership between nature conservation, especially birds and energy infrastructure along the migration path.

Fouad invited attendees to the COP27, scheduled for Sharm El Sheikh in November, and called on them to create global momentum on the importance of protecting the environment and biological diversity from the effects of climate change during the Cop27 in Egypt and the Cop28 in the United Arab Emirates.



China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
TT

China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state media from both countries.
Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, Morocco's MAP said.
The Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met Xi at the airport, where Xi and Hassan had a "cordial conversation", China's state broadcaster CCTV said.
Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit.
China has stepped up investments in Morocco's infrastructure and rail sector in recent years.
Morocco's geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers.
In June, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech picked Morocco to set up Africa's first gigafactory for a total cost of $1.3 billion.