Egypt's parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al met with French President Francois Hollande in the Egyptian parliament on Monday where they held talks on bilateral relations.

The speaker asked for France's support in the field of renewable energy and combating terrorism, as well as expressing the need for promoting tourism between the two countries due to its importance for the Egyptian economy.

Hollande affirmed to Abdel-Al that one of the main reasons behind his visit was to provide full French support to Egypt, as well as his country's backing of the Egyptian government and army in combating terrorism and promoting tourism.

He expressed his happiness over the diversity displayed in the Egyptian parliament, especially in the representation of women and youth.

The parliament's Deputy Speaker El-Sayed El-Sharif described Hollande's meeting with Abdel-Al and other MPs as a “special visit” that signals the depth of the relationship between the two countries.

The French president's trip to Egypt, which started on Sunday, is his second visit in less than a year, since the New Suez Canal inauguration in August 2015.

His visit included talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi about regional issues and means to enhance bilateral relations and combat terrorism.

The two presidents have so far witnessed the signing of 18 financial deals worth more than 1.5 billion euros, as well as memorandums of understandings in the fields of transport, energy, renewable energy, gas and tourism.

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