Manila: Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, held a meeting with Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the discussions between the two ministers focused on enhancing the bilateral relations and sharing perspectives on regional developments. Minister Abdelatty highlighted the positive trajectory of Egyptian-Norwegian relations at both political and economic levels. He emphasized the need to increase engagements across various sectors aligned with the high-level political relations between the two nations. The minister expressed a keen interest in boosting the frequency of visits by officials and entities in agriculture, trade, health, education, energy, and the environment. Furthermore, the importance of strengthening cooperation between the business communities and chambers of commerce of both countries was underscored. Abdelatty also called for expanding financial support for Norwegian companies in Egypt and promoting investment in clean energy ventures, leveraging Egypt's recent economic and financial reforms.

Minister Abdelatty also pointed out the necessity to enhance bilateral trade and expand trilateral cooperation in Africa, particularly in renewable energy projects. Such initiatives would support Africa's energy transition efforts and demonstrate both countries' commitment to sustainable development across the continent.

On regional issues, Minister Abdelatty updated his Norwegian counterpart on the latest developments and Egypt's efforts to promote security and stability in the region. He reiterated Egypt's support for dialogue and diplomatic solutions to address regional crises. The minister also acknowledged Norway's support for the Palestinian cause, stressing the need for collective efforts to ensure the U.S. President's plan's phased implementation, aiming for early recovery and reconstruction. He emphasized that achieving regional stability in the Middle East is contingent upon restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.