El-Sisi’s official visit, which began yesterday in response to President Erdoğan’s invitation, aims to lay the foundation for a new phase in bilateral relations…reports Asian Lite News
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasised that his current visit to Türkiye, along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s earlier visit to Cairo, reflects the shared will to initiate a new phase of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
El-Sisi expressed his great pleasure at his first visit to the Republic of Türkiye and his meeting with President Erdoğan, noting that the historical relations between the two nations date back to the establishment of the Turkish Republic by leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
The Egyptian presidency affirmed that El-Sisi’s official visit, which began yesterday in response to President Erdoğan’s invitation, aims to lay the foundation for a new phase in bilateral relations and to enhance cooperation in various fields.
Ambassador Ahmed Fahmy, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency, stated that this historic visit represents a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations in light of regional challenges that require consultation and coordination between the two countries.
The visit is expected to include the two presidents chairing the first meeting of the Egypt-Türkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council .
During the meeting, the two sides will discuss ways to enhance cooperation across various fields and exchange views on regional and international issues, including efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and address the humanitarian crisis there.
“All aspects of Turkey-Egypt relations will be reviewed, and joint steps that could be taken in the upcoming period to further improve bilateral cooperation will be addressed at the Council meeting,” the statement said, adding several agreements are expected to be signed during the meeting.
The two leaders’ talks will also include discussions on “current regional and global matters, particularly the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories,” the statement noted.
The visit follows Erdogan’s trip to Cairo in February, signaling a thaw in bilateral ties after years of hostility. Relations between Turkey and Egypt soured after the ouster of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 and the subsequent banning of his Turkey-backed Muslim Brotherhood group, which led both countries to expel each other’s ambassadors.
Ties between the two countries began to improve in 2020 when Ankara launched a diplomatic effort to reduce tensions with its estranged regional rivals, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
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