Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed on Wednesday the importance of swiftly forming a Lebanese technocrat government that will carry out the required reforms and be fully responsible for the Lebanese people's interests.

The Egyptian minister's remarks came during a press conference held in Beirut following a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, stating that Egypt will spare no effort to continue supporting Lebanon at such a critical stage.

Shoukry arrived in Beirut earlier on Wednesday in an official visit to express Egypt's solidarity with the people of Lebanon and the need to place the country's national interest above all other considerations to achieve security, stability, development, and prosperity, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said.

Shoukry said that Lebanon's stability is vital for the region, noting that he will continue holding meetings with various Lebanese political parties.

After his talks with Lebanese President Michel Aoun on the same day, Shoukry said that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attaches great importance to Lebanon and its stability and is keen to see it overcome the crises it is facing.

The foreign minister moreover affirmed that El-Sisi has directed the state to exert all possible efforts within the framework of communication with all Lebanese political components in order to help Beirut get out of its current crisis.

Shoukry's visit also aims to reaffirm Egypt's support for Lebanon to overcome its current crisis by forming a government by Prime Minister-designate Saad Al-Hariri.

Al-Hariri was named premier for the fourth time in October after his successor stepped down following the massive 4 August explosion in Beirut's port, which was caused by explosive chemicals that had been stored in a warehouse there for years.

He has pledged to quickly form a new government of specialists that would enact reforms and stop the country's economic collapse.

“During my last visit to Lebanon about eight months ago in the wake of the Beirut port blast, support was provided for Lebanon at the regional and international levels in the hope that the Middle Eastern country would be able to deal with political challenges or those associated with the coronavirus pandemic and its repercussions on the Lebanese people,” Shoukry said.

Egypt has launched an air bridge to deliver medical aid and foodstuffs to Lebanon on the heels of the deadly blast that killed over 200 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

Unfortunately, after eight months now, there is still a state of political deadlock in the country, and efforts are still made to form a government of specialist ministers capable of meeting the Lebanese people’s needs and achieving stability, the foreign minister noted.