Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty stressed that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's participation in the African Union's (AU) mid-year coordination summit underscores Egypt's commitment to strengthening ties with the continent.According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty conveyed in statements to Nile TV that the President's attendance highlights the priority Egypt places on fostering inter-African relations and enhancing cooperation with its brothers across the continent. He emphasized the special significance of the current AU session, which focuses on regional integration, a critical issue following the enactment of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Egypt is actively working to leverage this agreement to boost intra-African trade and advance regional integration.Abdelatty noted that President Sisi will deliver two speeches at the summit, one as the chair of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Steering Committee and th e other as the head of the North African Regional Capability. In these speeches, El Sisi will review Egypt's efforts over the past two years to mobilize funding for implementing the AU's Agenda 2063 and advancing regional integration.The Foreign Minister also highlighted President El Sisi's planned meetings with several African leaders, reflecting Egypt's commitment to deepening political, economic, and trade relations with the African continent. Abdelatty pointed out several mechanisms launched under El Sisi's directives to bolster pan-African cooperation, including the doubling of the budget of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), enacting a $100 million financing mechanism for water and development projects in the Nile Basin, and establishing the Egyptian Export Credit Guarantee Agency for Africa.Furthermore, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's ongoing mediation efforts in coordination with Qatar, including almost-daily contact with US envoy Stephen Wittkoff and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. He mentioned that President El Sisi has directed intensified efforts to finalize a ceasefire agreement, a long-awaited step to spare Palestinian lives. Negotiations are now at an advanced stage, but greater Israeli flexibility and political will are needed. Once a ceasefire is achieved, Cairo's international conference on early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza will take place.