The prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Matata Ponyo Mapon, visited Egypt's New Suez Canal on Friday, during an official visit to the country, Al-Ahram Arabic reported.

Ponyo also met with the head of the Suez Canal Authority, Mohab Mamish, in the trip to Ismailia to see the extension to the canal which was completed in August 2015.

On Thursday, Ponyo visited the House of Representatives and met with its speaker, Ali Abdel-Al. He also met with his Egyptian counterpart, Sherif Ismail; the two signed a number of economic development protocols of cooperation.

Ponyo said Thursday that his country would support Egypt in its ongoing dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile.

"We have declared our position before regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and we always support Egypt," Ponyo said at a press conference with Ismail on Thursday.