Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met on Monday with both the Cypriot and French defence ministers on the sidelines of the first Egyptian defence expo, El-Sisi’s spokesman said.
During his meetings with French Defence Minister Florence Parly, El-Sisi highlighted the importance of the strategic relations between Egypt and France, praising the cooperation between them in various fields, especially in the military field.
El-Sisi expressed his hopes of developing bilateral cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of both countries, his spokesman, Bassam Rady, said.
Parly confirmed her keenness to attend EDEX 2018, and said that her country is proud of the participation of 31 French companies in the exhibition, according to El-Sisi’s spokesman.
EDEX 2018 is the first such defence expo in Egypt, and is being organised this week by the Egyptian armed forces under the auspices of the President El-Sisi.
The meeting on Monday was attended by a number of French and Egyptian officials, including Egyptian Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki.
Officials also discussed ways to enhance military cooperation between the two countries as well as the latest developments in regional and international issues of common interest, such as ways to combat terrorism.
The French and the Egyptian officials also discussed the latest on the Libyan crisis, with a focus on the Egyptian efforts to support the Libyan army in its pivotal role in imposing security and stability in Libya.
Rady added that the meeting dealt with the exchange of views on ways of tripartite cooperation between Egypt and France on the African continent, in light of Egypt's assumption of the presidency of the African Union next year.
El-Sisi also met with Cypriot Defence Minister Savvas Angelides on Monday, who is also participating in EDEX 2018; El-Sisi hailed the distinguished relations between both countries, Rady said, and expressed his hope to continue to develop military cooperation and joint exercises between the two countries.
The president stressed the importance of the exhibition as the first of its kind in northern and central Africa, Rady said, with the participation of the most important companies specialised in this field from around the world.
For his part, Angelides expressed his admiration for the distinguished participation of the world's leading companies in this field, which confirms the prestige and weight that Egypt enjoys and its pivotal role in the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
He also stressed the aspiration of his country to continue to open new horizons for cooperation to serve the interests of both countries.
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