President El Sisi Holds Summit Talks with President of Belarus in Minsk

Today, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi held summit talks with the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, at the Republican Palace in Minsk, on the second day of President El Sisi’s official visit to Belarus.

After the official reception ceremony, President Lukashenko welcomed President El Sisi and expressed his country’s appreciation for Egypt’s leadership and people. He lauded the firm relations between Egypt and Belarus, and emphasized his country’s commitment to further promoting bilateral cooperation and coordination across all levels, notably in light of Egypt’s key role as a cornerstone for security, stability and peace in the Middle East and Africa.

President El Sisi thanked President Lukashenko for his invitation to visit Belarus and for the warm reception and hospitality that he received. President El Sisi commended the longstanding, robust, and outstanding relations between Egypt and Belarus, pointing out in particular President Lukashenko’s last visit to Egypt in January 2017. President El Sisi underscored Egypt’s interest in advancing these relations in all areas and continuing political coordination and consultations between the two countries. He stressed the need to explore new aspects of cooperation and noted that Egypt relies on Belarus to deepen Egypt’s relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The meeting focused on ways to enhance bilateral relations across various levels. President Lukashenko commended the comprehensive economic reforms in Egypt, which led to a remarkable improvement in Egypt’s economic indicators. The two sides asserted the need to work toward reinvigorating the Egyptian-Belarusian Joint Business Council. They confirmed that this council shall be a cornerstone for enhancing mutual investment in a range of sectors and for increasing trade between the two countries, thus leading to a major stride in the economic relations between Egypt and Belarus, particularly with the participation of Belarusian companies in implementing mega national projects in Egypt, including the Suez Canal economic zone project.

Talks also touched on ways to foster closer cooperation in an array of fields. Those include military industrialization and heavy industries, and the areas of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and animal production, tourism and culture. This is in addition to sharing expertise in academic and research fields in sectors of mutual interest and stepping up cooperation between Belarus and Africa in light of Egypt’s current chairmanship of the African Union.

On political and diplomatic relations between Egypt and Belarus, the two Presidents agreed on having Egypt establish an accredited diplomatic representation in the capital Minsk like the Belarusian Embassy in Cairo, reflecting the growing momentum between the two sides. They also agreed on promoting the level of the Joint Egyptian-Belarusian committee to the political level.

Deliberations also touched on regional and international developments of mutual interest. President Lukashenko lauded Egypt’s positive role in reaching political settlements to the current crises in its regional surrounding.

Both views agreed on the importance of backing the political settlement efforts in Syria, continuing reconstruction in the country, eradicating terrorist groups and supporting state institutions so as to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity, fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people and end their humanitarian plight. President El Sisi also reviewed Egypt’s views concerning the political solution in Libya as well as its efforts to unite and support the Libyan military institution so as to empower it to undertake its tasks, particularly eradicating terrorist groups and elements.

The two presidents also discussed the issue of human trafficking. Both sides applauded the ongoing coordination between the two countries in this regard at international fora to promote this issue, in light of both countries’ membership of the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking in the UN. This is in addition to their conviction that the repercussions of human trafficking as a transnational organized crime pose a threat to the security of the international community.

Talks also touched on efforts to counter terrorism and extremism, in light of their threat to development endeavors in the region and the world. The President affirmed the importance of concerted international efforts to curb these phenomena at all levels, whether financing terrorist groups or providing them with arms and terrorist elements, and reviewed the successful results of the Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018. President Lukashenko lauded Egypt’s comprehensive approach in its war on terrorism by addressing the root causes of the problem and supporting economic and social development and fighting extremist thinking.

The two presidents also signed the joint declaration issued following the talks and witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and MoUs between the two countries in a number of fields including information, youth, trade cooperation as well as establishing a joint business council. President El Sisi also was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples by the President of Belarus.