President El-Sisi Receives a Phone Call from British Prime Minister

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received this evening a phone call from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency stated that the call touched on the most prominent issues of bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly trade, investment, health and security cooperation, as well as efforts to combat terrorism. During the call, they exchanged views on the latest developments in regional issues of common interest as well as in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) file.

The Spokesman added that the positive development in the bilateral cooperation relationship during the recent period was also commended. Additionally, the specificity of the relationship between Egypt and Britain, which should be further supported to become more profound, was stressed.

It was also agreed that cooperation and dialogue should be continued and coordination strengthened in regional and international files amid the serious challenges facing the Middle East, Africa and the world at large.

President El-Sisi and the British PM also agreed on the importance of strengthening and developing cooperation in the security, military and intelligence fields, especially with regard to combating terrorism, fighting illegal migration and securing borders.

They further agreed to promote economic cooperation to attract more British investments, particularly as the Egyptian economy is witnessing positive developments in light of the efforts made to encourage the promising investment and industrial opportunities provided by the national projects being implemented in Egypt. They also highlighted the possibility of exporting products to several free trade zones in Egypt and hence in the Arab and African regions.

The call also touched on ways to enhance cooperation in the health and education sectors, including benefiting from British capabilities and expertise in the education sector, enhancing cooperation programs between the British and Egyptian universities, and maximizing cooperation in the health field.

Hence, Egypt would get the maximum benefit from the British excellence in this field, especially amid the urgent need to join forces in order to address the COVID-19 pandemic through training specialized medical personnel. Furthermore, promoting joint cooperation in the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccines as well as ensuring the exchange of accurate information to discuss travel arrangements between the two countries were discussed.

With regard to climate issues, the two sides stressed the importance of strengthening joint coordination for the next session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which the UK will host in Glasgow at the end of this year, to yield strong results. Thus, the work of the international community would be enhanced amid the current global climate crisis.

They also emphasized the importance of prioritizing the issues of adaptation to negative climate change impacts and supporting developing countries to obtain financing so as to address climate change and receive technological and technical support.

The Spokesman added that the call touched on the most prominent developments in the regional files of common interest. President El-Sisi and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain exchanged views on the latest developments of the Palestinian question.

In this context, the British PM praised the Egyptian initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip by allocating 500 million dollars for the reconstruction process, emphasizing the highest priority given to stabilizing the ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Strip, which Egypt has succeeded in reaching through stepping up contacts with all parties.

They also stressed, during the coming period, the need to take further measures aimed to promote calm and provide the necessary conditions in order to create a favorable climate to revive the desired political path as well as to launch serious and constructive negotiations between the two sides.

The latest developments of the GERD were also reviewed, especially after the Security Council meeting was held this month. The President hence asserted Egypt's firm position to adhere to its historical rights in the Nile waters and to preserve Egypt's water security now and in the future.

They emphasized, in this regard, the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities in order to advance the negotiation process seriously and with a real political will to reach a comprehensive, just and legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam. The British Prime Minister has made clear his support for the efforts to resume the negotiation process in order to reach a just solution to this issue.

The President and the British PM also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Libyan crisis and stressed the importance of advancing the transitional political process that the country is going through with the aim of bringing a final settlement to this crisis in order to hold the elections as scheduled by the end of this year.

They also emphasized the need for mercenaries, militias and foreign forces to leave Libya and the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of Libya and the integrity of its national institutions, thus undermining the possibilities of chaos and blocking intervention of external powers.