CAIRO, May 14 (MENA) - Deputy Foreign Minister for Emigration and Egyptians Abroad Ambassador Abou Bakr Hefny Mahmoud praised the strong bilateral relations between Egypt and Finland.

This came during his meeting with Permanent State Secretary of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Jukka Salovaara on the sidelines of the political consultation round between Egypt and Finland.

The discussions focused on ways to enhance bilateral relations, cooperation in trade and investment, as well as coordination between the two countries in regional and international multilateral forums.

Mahmoud emphasized the importance of boosting Finnish investments in Egypt, particularly in light of the numerous opportunities presented by Egypt's investment climate, especially in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which offers potential for productive projects and export advantages.

He also pointed to the unprecedented infrastructure developments in recent years and highlighted the vast potential for cooperation between Egypt and Finland in areas such as information and communication technology, artificial intelligence, e-governance and cybersecurity.

Mahmoud and the Finnish official also exchanged views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Mahmoud reviewed the latest developments in the Red Sea, stressing the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and restoring calm in the region to avoid further escalation and violence.

He expressed Egypt’s welcome of the ceasefire agreement in Yemen brokered with US, and both sides discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip. The discussions covered Egypt’s ongoing efforts to resume the ceasefire, ensure the urgent and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and facilitate the release of prisoners and detainees.

The situation in Ukraine was also addressed, with both parties underlining the need for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and the importance of intensifying joint efforts to support security and stability in this critical region of the world. (MENA)

M H K/M O H