Egypt and Britain discussed the latest regional and international development and repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received the British Minister of State Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs of South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, Lord Tariq Ahmad.
Foreign Minister Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said the visit reflects mutual keenness to bolster cooperation and coordination in various fields and build on the results of the first meeting of the Participation Council, which was held in July in London.
Shoukry hailed Britain’s keenness on intensifying dialogue with Egypt on various issues of common interest to strengthen areas of joint action.
The spokesman said the talks reflected the historical and distinguished relations between the two countries.
The ministers stressed the importance of advancing technical consultation mechanisms to prepare for the second meeting of the Participation Council that will be held in Cairo later in 2023 and chaired by the FMs.
They also addressed the various aspects of bilateral cooperation, primarily economic and commercial.
Shoukry praised the volume of British investments in the Egyptian market.
UK is the top foreign investor in Egypt, said the FM, stressing that the government aims to increase these investments and strengthen the involvement of British companies in major national projects in the country.
He noted this would boost trade exchange between the two countries to achieve their interests and explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
The officials also discussed the repercussions of the current global economic crisis and ways of cooperation to mitigate its effects.
Shoukry stressed the importance of concerted international efforts to support developing countries most affected by the crisis and help contain its negative repercussions, especially on food supply chains.
The ministry spokesman stated that the ministers addressed several regional and international issues, including the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the escalations in the Palestinian Territories, and the latest developments in Libya, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen.
For his part, the British Secretary of State expressed his country's interest in advancing relations with Egypt as a strategic partner, praising Cairo’s role in supporting security and stability in the Middle East.
Shoukry and Ahmad agreed on the importance of pushing forward bilateral relations between Egypt and Britain and intensifying consultation and coordination mechanisms on regional issues.
