Moscow: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have underscored their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between Egypt and Russia. This affirmation follows directives from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting took place during Abdelatty’s official visit to Moscow, where the two ministers engaged in extensive discussions on enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tamim Khallaf noted that both parties are focused on upgrading their economic, commercial, and investment relations.
Abdelatty expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Dabaa nuclear plant and the Russian Industrial Zone (RIZ) within the Suez Canal Economic Zone. He called for an acceleration of RIZ operations and greater Russian investments in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and petrochemical industries. Additionally, he valued the collaboration in wheat and grain imports and expressed hopes for Russian involvement in a planned grain logistics center in Egypt.
The talks also addressed multilateral cooperation, with Abdelatty highlighting aspirations to enhance economic relations within the BRICS group. He emphasized the significance of soft financing from the New Development Bank and the need for joint efforts to reform the global financial and debt structures to prioritize the needs of developing nations.
Tourism was another focal point, with Abdelatty appreciating the rise in Russian tourists and expressing eagerness to increase flights and support Egyptian airlines in the Russian market. He noted that airports in Alamein and Alexandria are prepared to welcome Russian visitors.
Health sector cooperation was also on the agenda, with both ministers discussing expansion in vaccine production and pharmaceutical localization efforts. The meeting covered various regional developments, including Egypt’s diplomatic initiatives to mitigate military escalations and the outcomes of a recent ministerial meeting in Islamabad.
In the context of the Horn of Africa, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of stability in Somalia and asserted that Red Sea governance should remain within the purview of its coastal states. On water security, he reiterated Egypt’s stance against unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile basin that contravene international law.
Regarding Sudan, Abdelatty highlighted the need to preserve its unity, advocate for a Sudanese-led political process, and work towards a humanitarian truce as a precursor to a ceasefire. On Libya, he reaffirmed Egypt’s support for conducting simultaneous elections, and concerning the Ukrainian crisis, he reiterated the call for resolving disputes through dialogue.