Sisi and Putin reaffirm commitment to advancing bilateral relations between Egypt and Russia and cooperation across various fields
Khadija Hamouda
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, held in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
Spokesman for the Presidency of the Republic, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, stated that the two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperate across various fields, in the interest of both countries and their friendly peoples.
The President highlighted key projects currently being implemented in Egypt as part of the Egyptian-Russian partnership, foremost among them the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project and the Russian Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. He also pointed to cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, investment, food security, and tourism.
In this context, the President emphasized Egypt’s determination to overcome any challenges that may hinder the implementation of joint projects, welcoming the decision by the relevant Russian authorities to designate Alexandria and El Alamein International Airports, which will contribute to enhancing Russian tourist flows to new destinations within Egypt.
For his part, the Russian President affirmed his country’s commitment to continuing to strengthen ties of cooperation with Egypt and supporting the Egyptian state’s efforts aimed at achieving comprehensive development and implementing major projects according to agreed timelines and specifications.
Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, the official spokesperson, added that the two leaders exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest, foremost among them the Palestinian issue. They reaffirmed the necessity of reaching a just and comprehensive settlement based on the two-state solution and resolutions of international legitimacy.
In this regard, the President outlined Egypt’s efforts to advance the implementation of the commitments of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, stressing the urgent need to ensure adequate and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Strip’s residents.
The meeting also addressed the Iranian crisis, with both presidents affirming the priority of de-escalation and returning to the negotiation track, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement that resolves the crisis through peaceful means.
Regarding the situation in Sudan, the two leaders discussed current developments and stressed the necessity of preserving Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and national institutions. The President emphasized that any infringement on the security, unity, and sovereignty of friendly Sudan constitutes a red line that Egypt will not allow to be crossed.
