French President Emmanuel Macron, right, greets Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el Sissi as he arrives for the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. AP
Speaking to the Egyptian news agency MENA on Tuesday, Confavreux said that El-Sisi’s participation in the summit reflects Paris’s keenness to listen to Cairo’s wise voice and its historical experience in dealing with regional issues.
The French diplomat explained that the 52nd edition of the G7 summit is taking place at “delicate timing,” in light of the impact of the Middle East crisis on the global economy, as well as the ongoing escalation in Lebanon and Palestine.
However, he affirmed the “strong trust” between Egypt and France in addressing these major issues, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and tensions related to the Iranian file.
Confavreux further pointed out that Cairo and Paris share converging views on most regional issues, amid the two countries’ persistent efforts to elevate the voice of diplomacy.
He highlighted ongoing coordination between Egypt and France to achieve stability in the region and to advance to the second phase of the Gaza peace plan.
The French spokesman also underscored joint efforts to ensure the success of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement and guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
He affirmed that the Egyptian-French partnership is strong at all levels and not limited to deep bilateral cooperation, but also extends to coordination and alignment of views on various issues of mutual interest.
Confavreux further stressed that relations between Cairo and Paris are “very strong,” recalling that French President Emmanuel Macron visited Egypt three times within one year, the most recent being his visit to Alexandria in May.
In a report released on Sunday ahead of President El-Sisi’s departure for the G7 Summit, Egypt's Ministry of State for Media said the invitation extended to the president to attend the Summit at Macron’s request carries profound political and strategic significance.
The ministry highlighted that this invitation is not merely a diplomatic gesture but a recognition of Egypt’s growing regional and global role, as well as a reflection of the distinguished level reached in Egyptian-French relations.
The report further emphasized that such invitations are extended only to countries whose voices are considered essential in shaping global dialogue, underscoring Egypt’s role in stabilizing the Middle East and North Africa.
The ministry noted that Egypt’s presence at the summit allows for direct dialogue with world leaders who value Cairo’s perspectives on regional and international issues.
On Monday, President El-Sisi arrived in the French city of Evian-les-Bains to participate in the G7 summit, held under the French Presidency of the group from 15 to 17 June.
Egypt, which is participating as a partner country, will mark its second attendance at a G7 summit, with the first being at the 45th summit in the French city of Biarritz in August 2019, during Egypt's presidency of the African Union (AU).
During the summit, El-Sisi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with participating world leaders, prominently featuring a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Established in 1975, the group initially consisted of six of the world’s largest advanced economies: the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, with Canada joining in 1976.
In 1998, Russia joined, turning it into the G8. However, following the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, Russia’s membership was suspended, returning the group to the G7.
The group’s presidency rotates annually among member states, with the 52nd edition featuring the transition of the group’s presidency from France to the US.
The G7 countries account for over 40 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and more than 30 percent of the world economy, while the group’s member states’ population represents over 10 percent of the global population.
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