
Egypt's prime minister and Saudi Arabia's crown prince (Photo: Al-Ahram Arabic news website)
Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi met on Tuesday with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Defence Minister Salman bin Abdulaziz in discussions that focused on the future of bilateral relations between the two countries and means to enhance them.
During the meeting in Riyadh, El-Beblawi confirmed to the Saudi leader that Egypt has witnessed growing stability and that the interim-government has paved the road for upcoming cabinets and elections, according to a press release from Egyptian interim government spokesman Hani Salah.
Salah added that the Saudi crown prince stressed that Egypt’s stability is a concern for all Arab countries and a guarantee for the region’s own stability.
The two Arab leaders are scheduled to continue their meeting along with other Egyptian and Saudi officials on Wednesday morning.
El-Beblawi flew to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning, accompanied by Egypt's ministers for housing, petroleum, transportation, planning and investment.
Saudi Arabia has been one of the strongest backers of last July's removal of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following nationwide protests.
The kingdom, along with the UAE and Kuwait, has since showered Egypt with billions of dollars, in a sign of approval for country's post-Morsi road map.
Al-Ahram's Arabic newspaper reported in January that Saudi plans to give Egypt up to another $4 billion in the form of bank deposits and petroleum products.
Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour visited Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah last October. The visit was his first foreign trip as interim leader.
Short link: