Baghdad and Cairo on Saturday boosted bilateral cooperation by inking 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding during a meeting of the Iraqi-Egyptian High Joint Committee headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and his Egyptian counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly.
Accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, Madbouly arrived in the Iraqi capital to co-chair the meetings of the committee, meet Iraqi leaders and sign the MoUs.
The MoUs encompass fields of transport, water resources, health, environment, justice, investment, housing, construction, industry, trade and finance.
Noting that the meeting of the committee comes at a critical time, Madbouly emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between Cairo and Baghdad to face common challenges and dangers through establishing a strategic partnership.
Madbouly said that the region was witnessing successive developments.
The Egyptian PM said that his country’s policy towards Baghdad is founded on the principals of preserving Iraqi sovereignty and rejecting all forms of foreign interference in its affairs.
He also voiced rejection to illegal attacks taking place within Iraq, stressing that Egypt fully understands the political, historic and geographic particularities of the country.
Madbouly added that Iraq has a chance to become an arena for interests to meet.
Addressing the committee meeting, Madbouly praised "what was initially agreed upon concerning the importance of establishing an oil-for-reconstruction mechanism," which he added would contribute to double cooperation between both countries.
Madbouly told the Iraqi side that the Egyptian construction companies are ready to help reconstruct and develop Iraq's infrastructure.
He also said that the high committee meetings aim at maximizing the mutual benefit from the experiences and capabilities of the two countries in various fields.
Madbouly called for utilizing what he described as "great production and export potentials" that both countries enjoy.
Kadhimi stressed that his country looks forward to working with Egypt and strengthening cooperation between the two countries, while noting that the Iraqi government attaches utmost importance to the joint committee.
Kadhimi also thanked the Egyptian people and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for sending 15 tons of medical aid to Iraq.
