President El-Sisi Holds Summit Talks with the President of Serbia in Belgrade

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held summit talks in Belgrade with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić. At the official reception ceremony for President El-Sisi, the two national anthems were played and the guards of honor were reviewed.

The Spokesman for the Presidency said the President of Serbia commenced the meeting by welcoming President El-Sisi as a dear guest in Serbia for the first time. President Vučić expressed his country's appreciation for Egypt's leadership and people, valuing the bilateral relations between the two countries. He affirmed his country's keenness to continue upgrading relations and strengthening cooperation and coordination between the two friendly countries at all levels, given Egypt’s pivotal role as a pillar of stability, security and peace in the Middle East and Africa.

President El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for President Vučić‘s invitation to visit Serbia and for the warm reception and hospitality. President El-Sisi congratulated President Vučić on his re-election as President of the Republic of Serbia for a second term, which reflects the confidence of Serbian citizens in his leadership at a historical era that is characterized by many political and economic challenges. President El-Sisi valued the strong, extended and outstanding relations between Egypt and Serbia, particularly at the level of the Non-Aligned Movement. The President also expressed Egypt’s mutual interest to further strengthen and upgrade these relations in various fields, as well as to continue coordination and political consultation between the two countries and explore aspects of bilateral cooperation.

The meeting discussed fostering closer relations at various levels. The President of Serbia commended on the remarkable development in Egypt over the past years, stressing his country's aspiration to boost mutual investments in many sectors and increase the volume of trade between the two friendly countries. This shall create a qualitative leap in Egyptian-Serbian economic relations, especially through the participation of Serbian companies in the implementation of mega national projects in Egypt.

President El-Sisi welcomed strengthening cooperation with Serbia in various areas, particularly military, economic, commercial and tourism cooperation, to be commensurate with the alignment of visions between the two countries with regard to regional and international developments, particularly with the state of instability witnessed at the international arena. This requires finding joint action by countries with similar orientations, particularly in the areas of energy, security and regional security.

The talks also discussed various developments in regional and international issues of common interest. The Ukrainian crisis and its repercussions on the global economy were focused on during the meeting, as well as the situations in Yemen, Syria and Libya. The President of Serbia valued Egypt’s positive role in efforts toward reaching political settlements for the ongoing crises in its regional milieu. He also commended promoting dialogue between African, Arab and European countries, as well as efforts to combat extremist ideology and illegal immigration and entrench the principles and values of acceptance of the other, freedom of choice and tolerance.