Mohammad holds talks with Al Sissi

Abu Dhabi: The UAE and Egypt reiterated their keenness to take their bilateral relations to greater heights and stressed the strength of the strategic partnership that binds both countries at this critical stage of the region’s history.

This came as His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, held talks with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Al Sissi arrived in Abu Dhabi on a two-day state visit.

Shaikh Mohammad welcomed Al Sissi and his delegation and expressed his delight at this visit, which is in the interests of both nations and helps strengthen UAE-Egypt ties and cooperation on several regional and international issues. The two leaders discussed a number of regional and international issues of common interest.

Shaikh Mohammad and Al Sissi explored avenues of cooperation and the level of coordination in political, economic and development issues and the progressive growth the two countries have achieved in their relations.

“The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reaffirms its unchanged positions towards supporting Egypt in a manner that would help maintain its security and stability and enhance economic and development growth in Egypt,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

The Egyptian leader expressed his appreciation of the constructive role played by the UAE in supporting Egypt as well as its honourable standing by the side of the Egyptian people.

He stressed Egypt’s commitment toward the UAE’s and all GCC’s security and stability and that they will stand together against various challenges.

The talk also touched on the latest developments in regional and international arenas and exchanged views on a number of issues of common interest.

Shaikh Mohammad and Al Sissi discussed the latest developments in the Syrian arena and the need to find a way out of this crisis in coordination with international and regional powers.

They spoke about the need to ensure Syria’s territorial integrity and security and to preserve its national institutions so as to meet the aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people.

The two leaders underlined the need to enhance bridges of communication, cooperation and dialogue with the international community to find common solutions to various regional and international issues and challenges.

The talk also touched on the role being played by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in the Restoring Hope operation in Yemen and supporting the legitimate government, as well as in countering security challenges that threaten the region.

Shaikh Mohammad and Al Sissi underlined the steps and victories achieved by the Arab Coalition forces on the ground, including the recapturing of Bab Al Mandab and securing international maritime navigation — a move that will help boost global trade and its movement.

The latest developments regarding the Palestinian cause and the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people were also discussed by Shaikh Mohammad and Al Sissi.

They highlighted the need to protect the Palestinian people against Israeli attacks. They also reiterated the importance of Arab solidarity to deal with all challenges facing the region and collective Arab action to fight extremism and violence.

They highlighted the need to combat terrorist organisations and radical groups that aim to undermine security and stability in Arab countries.