Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Alaa Moussa and Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs Mohammed bin Abdul-ِِِAziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi chaired the meeting.

The meeting discussed the latest developments of international and Arab issues of mutual concern, especially the Palestinian cause, the Qatari ministry said.

The two sides stressed the importance of enhancing joint efforts to achieve prosperity and development to overcome the challenges facing the Arab region, the Qatari ministry added.

The Egyptian ministry said the meeting comes in light of “the momentum that the bilateral relations between Egypt and Qatar witness and the [two countries’] desire to build on this rapprochement by coordinating and exchanging views on issues of mutual concern”.

The meeting, which is held for the first time, is considered “a basis for a joint mechanism for communication and coordinating stances and visions on all issues of priority to both sides,” the Egyptian ministry added.

Egypt and Qatar have boosted their relations on all levels and exchanged high-level visits in the wake of the Al-Ula declaration for Arab reconciliation with Qatar, which Egypt signed in Saudi Arabia in January 2021.

Egyptian-Qatari relations

Egypt and Qatar celebrated last December the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

In September, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi made his first visit to Doha since assuming the presidency in 2014, where he held talks with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and witnessed the signing of a number of MoUs between the two countries.

Last June, the Qatari leader also made his first visit to Egypt since the two countries resumed their diplomatic relations.

The speakers of Egypt's House of Representatives and Qatar's Consultative Assembly (Shura Council) also signed in December a protocol of parliamentary cooperation in Doha.

Egypt and Qatar signed in June an MoU in Doha on financial policy coordination, to foster cooperation and coordinate financial visions, positions, and policies at the bilateral and international levels.

Also, the two countries announced in March 2022 establishing a high joint committee headed by their foreign ministers to boost cooperation and coordination in all fields as well as to continue consultation. The announcement came during a visit by Qatari Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Thani to Cairo.

During the visit, Cairo and Doha also agreed on $5 billion in Qatari investments in Egypt.