Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, praised the depth of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, particularly following the upgrade of ties to a strategic partnership.According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting between the two top diplomats addressed ways to further strengthen strategic relations, as well as regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions. Both ministers expressed their aspiration to elevate cooperation across all fields, especially in the economic and trade sectors.On regional issues, they reviewed developments in the US-Iran negotiation track, where Abdelatty stressed the importance of supporting the negotiations as the only path to de-escalation and ending the war, emphasizing the need to safeguard freedom of navigation and take into account the security concerns of the Arab Gulf states. He also reiterated Egypt's condemnation of unjus tified attacks on Arab states.The two ministers exchanged views on the Palestinian cause, with Abdelatty stressing the importance of implementing the first phase of the US plan and proceeding to the second phase, highlighting the need for the national committee for Gaza administration to begin its work in the Strip and for the rapid deployment of an international stabilization force.The meeting also addressed developments in Lebanon, where the Egyptian Foreign Minister reaffirmed Egypt's support for Lebanon, condemning repeated Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and stressing the importance of preserving Lebanon's unity and territorial integrity, while supporting national institutions in fulfilling their responsibilities in maintaining security and stability.For his part, the French Foreign Minister praised the progress in Egyptian-French relations across various fields, expressing appreciation for Egypt's significant efforts to contain regional escalation. Both ministers agreed to continue clos e coordination and consultation and to work jointly to reduce escalation and support security and stability in the region.