According to a statement by the foreign ministry, Shoukry is scheduled to meet his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albarez and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The talks will touch upon the role that Spain can undertake to support efforts to stop the Gaza war and restore the path of political settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

The statement praised Spain’s longstanding positions in support of the Palestinian cause, the most recent of which is the important step it recently took to recognize the Palestinian state.

On Tuesday, Spain, alongside Norway and Ireland, formally recognized a Palestinian state in a step meant to pressure the Israeli authorities to halt its war, which is now in its eighth month.

This raised the number of UN member countries that have recognized the Palestinian State to 145 out of 193. This group includes many nations, mostly from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

It does not, however, include the United States, Canada, most Western European countries, Australia, Japan, or South Korea.

Shoukry’s visit to Spain will also explore ways to enhance bilateral relations between Cairo and Madrid, especially economic cooperation, to attract Spanish investments to Egypt, the statement noted.

The meetings also will address coordinating efforts to confront common challenges in the Mediterranean region, especially the issue of illegal immigration.