Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with the Democratic Republic of Congo's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment, Ms. Ève Masudi. The meeting was attended by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry.
The Spokesman for the Presidency stated that Ms. Masudi delivered a letter to President El-Sisi from DRC President Félix Tshisekedi , in which he expressed pride on the strategic relations that the two countries share and the distinct level they have reached, particularly in terms of political coordination and consultation and economic cooperation, which has witnessed a significant leap.
President Tshisekedi also expressed deep appreciation for Egypt’s tireless efforts, led by the President, to advance the African agenda in the context of the issue of climate change, with the aim of supporting a unified African position and working on fully activating the African initiatives proposed, confirming the unity of the African position, fulfilling the aspirations of the African peoples and taking their concerns into consideration. This is in pursuit of achieving comprehensive and sustainable development in the continent. He stressed, in this context, his confidence that the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November will represent a pivotal step to mobilize joint international effort to confront climate change, with regard to addressing its negative effects or through international action to reduce its causes and continue efforts to reduce emissions.
President El-Sisi asked for his greetings to be conveyed to President Tshisekedi and affirmed that Egypt will continue to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo and provide it with all possible assistance, as a country with which Egypt shares historical relations that represent a model of cooperation, coordination and mutual support.
The President also stressed that Egypt attaches top priority to the climate change dossier at the African and international levels, especially by hosting the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, which seeks to reach consensus on debatable issues between developing and developed countries in this regard. This is a continuation of the role that Egypt started from 2015 to 2017, when it chaired the African Ministers of Environment Conference and the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change. The President stressed Egypt’s keenness to seriously engage , coordinate, and mobilize the necessary support for the African countries to ensure their rapid adaptation to the negative economic and social impacts of climate change in the short, medium and long terms. This is in addition to working with all parties, on behalf of and for the African continent, in order to ensure the balanced outcome of the Sharm El- Sheikh summit that would contribute to supporting international efforts to confront climate change, and enhance the capacity of developing countries to adapt and access financing.
The Spokesman added that the meeting covered prospects for advancing joint African efforts to enhance solidarity to confront climate change and its negative repercussions, thus contributing to placing the continent's concerns and aspirations on the international arena of climate change negotiations.
