A high-level presidential delegation headed from Cairo to Paris on Friday, to prepare for the upcoming visit of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to France next Tuesday, during which he will meet with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
The French presidency said that Macron and Sisi will partake in a business lunch for the first meeting of a three-day visit, to discuss issues of common concern, including regional crises, combating terrorism and human rights issues, which France assigns special importance. The meeting will also tackle ways to strengthen relations in the fields of culture and education.
The two presidents will discuss means of enhancing relations between the two countries in various fields, particularly economic and trade cooperation, as well as promoting positive constructive relations and achieving more economic, trade and scientific cooperation to the benefit of the two countries, and support investment in Egypt.
The French presidency shared similar concerns and viewpoints with Egypt, especially the fight against terrorism, and the belief that terrorist groups derive their extremist ideas from the same source, adopting ideologies that are contrary to the essence of the Islamic religion.
Sisi held a meeting last Monday with the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Health, Justice and the heads of the General Intelligence Service, the Administrative Control Authority, to discuss preparations for the visit to France.
The president’s visit to Paris aims at boost bilateral relations in various fields, widen horizons, boost joint trade and economic cooperation, as well as discuss a number of regional and international issues of common concern, especially the fight against terrorism.
Edited Translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
