File photo: South Africa's President Jacob Zuma holds bilateral talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in New York in September 2014 (Photo: flickr.com/photos/presidencyza)
South African President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Wednesday on a two-day visit, heeding the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
"The working visit to Egypt presents an ideal opportunity to further strengthen and consolidate historic and strategic relations between the two countries and to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern," a South Africa statement read.
El-Sisi and Zuma last met in September 2014, when they were attending the 69th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.
During the UN assembly, El-Sisi announced Egypt's intentions to run for a Security Council non-permanent membership during the 2016-2017 term, adding that Egypt will look out for the interests of African countries.
South Africa is hosting the African Union's (AU) Summit in June 2015 and Zuma is expected to invite El-Sisi to the summit during his visit, Egypt's state news agency reported.
Egypt's AU membership was temporarily suspended in July 2013 following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
The country regained its AU membership in June 2014 following the start of the implementation of its "roadmap to democracy" and the election of El-Sisi as president.
Short link: