Foreign Minister and President Designate of COP27 Conference Sameh Shoukry held a session of talks on Monday with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry at the Foreign Ministry premises.

The meeting comes as part of Kerry’s two-day visit to Cairo

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry Monday launched the US-Egypt Climate Working Group after their meeting at the Foreign Ministry premises in Cairo.

The Egyptian minister made the remarks at a press briefing held jointly with the US envoy at the end of their session of talks held earlier in the day.

Shoukry said that an agreement was reached to form that group during the US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue held in November last year.

The top diplomat welcomed Kerry on his second visit to Cairo since he assumed his current post. Shoukry said that climate change is a common priority of both Cairo and Washington, noting that Egypt is preparing to host the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in 2022.

Egypt will lead international efforts to face climate change in the coming stage, the top diplomat said.

He added that his talks with Kerry focused on goals of the upcoming COP27, stressing that Egypt would continue to exert utmost effort at all levels with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support adaptation to the negative impact of climate change.

COP27 will also tackle finances needed to enanble developing countries to do their part of the Paris Agreement, Shoukry said.

Egypt is keen on empowering youth and the civil society, where climate change is concerned, he told Kerry.

Shoukry and Kerry agreed on next steps to continue joint coordination about top-priority issues on the agenda of COP27.

The Egyptian foreign minister hailed as “pivotal” the role played by Washington in terms of global climate action.

Source: State Information Service Egypt