Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said In a press conference with the President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo in Cairo on Thursday that he discussed with his counterpart the latest developments in the Grand Ethiopian Rennaisance Dam (GERD) dispute as well as issues of bilateral cooperation.

El-Sisi reiterated during the press conference that the Egyptian stance in the GERD dispute is based on reaching a fair legal binding agreement to fill and operate the dam in a way that does not harm the downstream countries.

The Egyptian president stated that he also discussed with Embalo bilateral cooperation as well as the latest regional developments, including counter terrorism efforts.

Meanwhile, Embaló, who is on his first official visit to Cairo,  praised during the press conference the inspiring Egyptian experience and Egypt’s vital role in achieving development, economic growth, and protecting peace and security in Africa through sharing its various expertise.

Addressing President El-Sisi, Embalo said “You are an African, and we remember the struggle of the late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser on behalf of the African continent, and you are walking on the same path.”

Embalo added that  "while at one point in the past Egypt was absent in Africa," but “today Egypt is back and we all feel the role of the Egyptian presidency and Egyptian diplomacy in the continent."

According to the Egyptian presidency, the two presidents discussed boosting cooperation on various levels to promote development efforts in Guinea-Bissau, especially in trade exchange, investment, and infrastructure domains.

Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said that El-Sisi highlightedthe importance Egypt attaches to enrolling cadres from Guinea-Bissau in capacity building and technical support programmes organised by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, with a view to upgrading the abilities of participants in various fields to cater to the African country's needs.