Egyptian President Announces Elevation of Egypt-South Korea Relations to Strategic Partnership Level
The Egyptian President announced the elevation of relations with South Korea to a strategic partnership during a meeting in Seoul.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Cairo, Oct 8 (KUNA) — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced today, Thursday, the upgrading of Egypt-Korea relations to the level of a strategic partnership, affirming that this step opens new horizons for cooperation between the two countries across various political, economic, and developmental fields.
In a statement, Egyptian presidential spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy said this development occurred during a meeting between President el-Sisi and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae-myung, in the capital, Seoul. The two leaders held bilateral talks and convened an expanded session of discussions with delegations from both countries.
The statement clarified that at the conclusion of the talks, the two presidents signed a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two nations, bringing the total number of agreements and MoUs signed during the visit to 12.
According to the statement, President el-Sisi affirmed that the declaration of a strategic partnership represents “a new milestone from which a promising future begins” for relations based on mutual respect and shared benefit, opening new avenues for cooperation in political, economic, and developmental sectors. He noted that this partnership aligns with Egypt’s balanced and diversified foreign policy, which is grounded in strategic equilibrium and the development of relations with various countries. He considered that Egypt-Korea relations have witnessed a “qualitative leap” over the past decade, strengthening bilateral cooperation in sectors such as technology, industry, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and new and renewable energy.
He stated that he and his Korean counterpart discussed the rapid developments unfolding globally, the growing flashpoints of escalation and tension, with the Middle East region at the forefront. He emphasized the existence of significant convergence in viewpoints regarding the importance of enhancing a culture of peace and supporting stability in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula.
He outlined Egypt’s efforts to restore security and stability in the Middle East, ensure freedom and safety of navigation in international sea lanes, prevent the escalation of current crises, and stop their spillover into other arenas. He reaffirmed Egypt’s supportive stance toward stability in the Horn of Africa region, the preservation of the sovereignty of its countries, and its rejection of any “measures aimed at creating new arrangements for access to the Red Sea at the expense of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of riparian states.”
Regarding the Palestinian issue, President el-Sisi reiterated his country’s firm position on the necessity of achieving a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the two-state solution, which includes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He expressed Egypt’s appreciation for South Korea’s future active participation in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, while looking forward to more countries recognizing the State of Palestine. He stressed the complete rejection of any plans targeting the displacement of the Palestinian people, as well as the rejection of dangerous Israeli escalation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (End) A.F.F. / N.B.S.
