Chevalier also confirmed France's rejection of the displacement of Palestinians and its support for Egypt and Jordan's position in this regard.

He highlighted the strong alignment between French and Egyptian viewpoints on regional crises.

"We highly appreciate Egypt's mediation efforts in reaching a ceasefire, and negotiations for the second phase have now begun," he said.

During a press conference this evening, Chevalier thanked Egypt for its mediation in the ceasefire and its role in securing the release of a French hostage last Saturday. He emphasized that beyond hostage releases, Egyptian mediation also facilitated the resumption of aid to Gaza.

He noted that France has worked closely with Egypt to deliver aid to Gaza and support residents seeking refuge in Egypt. In the coming days, France will continue collaborating with Egyptian officials and the Egyptian Red Crescent to provide further assistance.

The ambassador expressed France's satisfaction with reopening the Rafah crossing in cooperation with the European Union as part of a mission called "Obama," including French participation.

Chevalier reaffirmed the strong consistency between Egypt and France in political positions. He reiterated that France firmly opposes the large-scale displacement of Palestinians outside Gaza, a stance officially confirmed through public statements. He stressed that such displacement would violate international law, hinder the two-state solution, and destabilize Egypt and Jordan. "The future of Gaza must be part of a future Palestinian state," he asserted.

The ambassador underscored the importance of continuing efforts toward the two-state solution, highlighting France's clear stance. He announced that France, alongside Saudi Arabia, will co-chair a United Nations conference on the issue in June.

The final statement from last Saturday's meeting of six Arab countries also emphasized the importance of the June conference as a key step toward a two-state solution. The ambassador noted that France and Egypt closely coordinate on regional matters, including Sudan, where France organized an international conference in Paris to draw global attention to the crisis.

He confirmed that Egypt is working diligently with France to resolve the Lebanese crisis.

Regarding Syria, France will host a ministerial conference on 13 February, in which Egypt will participate. This will be the third conference of its kind.

The ambassador emphasized that France considers Egypt a major political, diplomatic, and security partner.

He highlighted France's active role in the International Monetary Fund and the European Union and its significant contribution to recent aid for Egypt. Additionally, 200 French companies employ around 50,000 Egyptians, and French investments in Egypt total 7 billion euros.

These companies also export to foreign markets, generating hard currency for Egypt. France's business interest in Egypt stems from Egypt's market size and strategic position as a gateway to African and Arab markets.

Chevalier announced that France will host a major economic forum in May, bringing together companies worldwide. Cairo was chosen as the venue due to Egypt's economic significance to France.

He noted that France is also involved in major national projects like the metro.

The French Development Agency is Egypt's leading partner in development projects, financing key initiatives such as the comprehensive health insurance program.

He stressed the importance of food security, mentioning a joint project with the European Union to enhance grain storage capacity, particularly for wheat, to help Egypt mitigate geopolitical and climate-related challenges.

Finally, the ambassador highlighted cultural cooperation between the two countries, particularly in education. He announced plans for increased collaboration and scholarships at all educational levels. He also noted that 3 February marks the anniversary of Umm Kulthum's death, with the French embassy organizing several events in her honour.