Riyadh: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy underlined the depth of the relations between Egypt and the European Union. Fathy's remarks came during a meeting with EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas to discuss ways to strengthen joint cooperation in the fields of tourism, antiquities, and investment in the coming period. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly, currently being held in the Saudi capital Riyadh.According to State Information Service Egypt, the minister referred to the fruitful meeting they had in Brussels, Belgium, last October, and the subsequent practical steps taken to enhance coordination and joint cooperation. The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation in the fields of training and human resources development, as well as exploring promising investment opportunities in the tourism sector, including the strategic plan currently being implemented to develop the area between Sphi nx International Airport and Dahshur. This project aligns with the ministry's focus on expanding hotel capacity to meet the growing demand from inbound tourism to Egypt.The discussions also touched on the ministry's ongoing efforts to preserve and protect Egypt's cultural heritage through restoration and development projects, and specialized training programs for professionals working in this field. For his part, the EU commissioner affirmed the European Union's support for Egypt across various fields. He noted that Egypt is an important partner and friend of the EU and that there are broad prospects for enhancing cooperation in the coming period. He also congratulated the minister on the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), describing it as a symbol of Egypt's modern and civilizational identity, and expressed his eagerness to visit Egypt soon.