France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visit the Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria. AFP
The visit was attended by heads of delegations participating in the inauguration ceremony, alongside Louise Mushikiwabo, secretary-general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the two leaders walked along Alexandria’s Corniche promenade before heading to the entrance of the historic citadel, where they received a briefing on the fortress’s history in the presence of Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy.
Sisi and Macron also listened to a presentation on underwater archaeological excavations linked to the remains of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria.
The presentation was delivered by Mohamed El-Sayed, senior inspector at the General Administration of Underwater Antiquities at Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and Thomas Faucher, head of the Centre for Alexandrian Studies affiliated with the French Ministry of Research.
The officials reviewed discoveries and archaeological treasures recovered from different historical eras during underwater excavation missions.
France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C) watch a video on the history of the city during a visit to the Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria. AFP
Following the tour, El-Sisi hosted a dinner banquet in honour of the French president, the accompanying delegation, and the heads of delegations attending the Senghor University inauguration ceremony.
During the dinner, the Egyptian president reaffirmed his welcome to Macron and praised the growing momentum in bilateral relations across multiple sectors, expressing hope for further cooperation in culture, tourism, archaeology, and the arts.
For his part, Macron expressed appreciation for visiting the historic city of Alexandria, describing it as a global beacon of science and culture and a longstanding hub for Mediterranean cooperation.
He also reaffirmed France’s commitment to deepening cultural ties with Egypt in support of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
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