French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) shakes hands with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sissi as their wives, Brigitte Macron (L) and Intissar Amer (R), pose for a picture next to them at the presidential palace in Cairo on January 28, 2019. (Photo: AFP)
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his wife Entissar El-Sisi received French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at Cairo's Ittihadiya presidential palace on Monday, before the two presidents started a closed session of talks.
The French head of state began a three-day trip to Egypt on Sunday with a first stop at Aswan, where he visited Abu Simbel Temple.
During his three-day visit, the two presidents are also set to hold a session of talks with the participation of delegations of officials from the two sides, followed by the signing of a number of agreements and MOUs, El-Sisi’s spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.
El-Sisi and Macron will also hold a press conference after their talks, according to Rady.
Macron's visit also coincides with the start of 'France-Egypt 2019,' which was launched earlier this year by El-Sisi and his French counterpart to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Suez Canal.
El-Sisi visited Paris in October 2017, where he met with Macron and discussed joint efforts to combat terrorism, the Middle East peace process, the situation in Libya, and issues related to bilateral cooperation.
This is Macron’s first official visit to Egypt since assuming office in 2017.
Egypt and France have strengthened economic and military ties since El-Sisi assumed office in 2014.
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