Cairo: Egypt and Qatar on Monday issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to strengthening their economic partnership and continuing efforts to reach a new ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip. The statement was issued following talks held between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. During their talks, the two leaders discussed ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in several fields, in a way that enhances common interests and opens new horizons for integration.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the two parties underscored the importance of cementing joint economic cooperation, through increasing Qatari investments and boosting trade exchange, which contributes to achieving sustainable economic development that serves the aspirations of Egyptian and Qatari peoples. In this regard, the two sides agreed to inject Qatari direct investments worth USD 7.5 billion in Egypt in the coming period.
President Sisi and the Qatari emir stressed their firm stances on supporting the legitimate rights of Palestinians, notably their right to establish an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with peace initiatives and relevant international resolutions. On that score, the two leaders confirmed their support for efforts aimed at bringing about a Palestinian national reconciliation, which ensures the empowerment of Palestinian state institutions and the fulfillment of the Palestinian people’s aspirations.
President Sisi and the Qatari emir reiterated their full backing of the Arab plan for Gaza reconstruction and Egypt’s hosting of an international conference for the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave after reaching a ceasefire agreement. The pair voiced their great concern over the continued escalation in Gaza, calling for maintaining joint efforts to secure an immediate and sustainable ceasefire deal and guarantee the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to Gazans.
The two leaders also expressed their concern about the ongoing conflict in Sudan, as they urged for the immediate cessation of hostilities and return to dialogue, in a way that preserves the country’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. They threw their full support behind all regional and international initiatives aimed at ending the conflict in Sudan.
President Sisi and the Qatari emir welcomed the resumption of indirect talks between the US and Iran, stressing their backing for any peaceful efforts to reduce tensions in the region and preserve its security and stability. In this connection, they commended diplomatic efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman in the Iranian-American negotiations.
The two sides also underlined the significance of supporting mediation efforts made by Egypt and Qatar, in partnership with the US, to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, deploring all attempts to undermine those efforts. The State of Qatar announced its support for the nomination of Egypt’s Khaled el-Anani for the position of UNESCO Director General, in recognition of his long academic and cultural career and his ability to make positive contributions to the UN agency.
The two parties expressed their satisfaction with the significant progress which the Egyptian-Qatari relationship has seen in the past period, underlining the importance of building on this to elevate relations to higher levels, based on mutual respect and a joint vision for a future of security, stability, and prosperity, the statement concluded.