Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko met in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss cooperation in agriculture, technology and security, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

El-Sisi and Lukashenko discussed the localisation of agriculture and technology in Egypt as well as security cooperation and the exchange of information between the two countries.

They also discussed recent developments regionally and internationally, the statement said.

Following the talks, the two presidents held a short press conference where President El-Sisi declared establishing  a joint business council between Egypt and Belarus, which will hold its first session on Thursday in the New Administrative Capital.

According to El-Sisi, the council aims to boost relations between the two countries, especially in investments.

President Lukasheko said that the talks with his Egyptian counterpart focused on the economic and trade relations between the two countries.

El-Sisi and Lukashenko also oversaw the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoU) between the two countries.

One of the MoUs was signed by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Belarusian counterpart to found a high-level joint committee for political dialogue between the two countries.

The other MoU was signed between the Central Bank of Egypt's governor and his Belarusian counterpart.

A special higher education programme agreement was signed by Egyptian Higher Education Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghafar and his Belarusian counterpart.

An agreement for mutual cooperation and support was also signed between the Egyptian customs authority and its Belarusian counterpart.  

President El-Sisi last visited Belarus in June 2019.