CAIRO, July 14 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty held a series of bilateral meetings with his African counterparts as well as senior officials of the African Union (AU).

The meetings involved the foreign ministers of Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, Djibouti, Somalia, Angola, Burundi, Gabon, and Mauritania, alongside AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, Director-General of the AU Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Space Agency (AfSA) Tidiane Ouattara, and Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Wamkele Mene.

These discussions were held on the sidelines of his participation in the 47th ordinary session of the AU's Executive Council in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tamim Khallaf stated that the minister underscored Egypt’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with African countries.

The meetings focused on mechanisms to activate bilateral cooperation and strengthen trade, investment, and economic relations.

The talks also covered Egypt’s potential contributions to major development projects in the continent, leveraging the extensive expertise and capabilities of leading Egyptian companies in key sectors, such as energy, construction, healthcare, and infrastructure.

The talks also included an exchange of views on regional developments, stressing the importance of coordinating positions within African and international fora, and intensifying joint efforts to advance regional integration and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the continent.

Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s ongoing efforts to support development in Africa, particularly through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has, over the years, contributed to building the capacities of thousands of African professionals and implementing development projects in key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, water, and energy.

He affirmed Egypt’s aspiration to broaden the reach of EAPD’s programs and initiatives to benefit a greater number of African states, as part of its enduring commitment to supporting its African partners and promoting sustainable development across the continent.

Abdelatty also reiterated Egypt’s steadfast commitment, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and in his capacity as Chair of the Steering Committee of Heads of State and Government of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), to deepening South-South cooperation and advancing continental integration, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in line with Egypt’s strategic orientation toward strengthening economic partnerships in the continent.

He further stressed the importance of strengthening joint African action and fostering unity in the face of mounting challenges, reaffirming Egypt’s continued commitment to playing its pivotal role in supporting efforts to achieve development, peace, and stability across the continent.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering commitment to supporting the priorities of the African continent and the AU's Agenda 2063, as well as to advancing regional integration and sustainable development.

He underlined the importance of supporting specialized African institutions, most notably the AfSA, noting Egypt’s full backing for the Agency and its readiness to strengthen its capabilities, particularly in light of Cairo serving as its host city.

expressed his appreciation for the African support extended to Egypt's candidate Khaled el-Anany for the position of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), noting that such support exemplifies the spirit of African solidarity.

He stressed the importance of preserving a unified African voice in international forums, as a means to advance the continent’s legitimate aspirations and strengthen its position within multilateral organizations. (MENA)
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