Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry stressed that strengthening trade relations between Egypt and Moldova was one of the most prominent topics touched upon during talks with his Moldovan counterpart, Nico Popescu, in Cairo on Tuesday. The FM noted at a joint press conference with Popescu that the talks dealt with regional and international developments, the Russian-Ukrainian War and its implications on Egypt and Moldova, Palestine, and the situation in the region in particular. Shoukry explained that the talks with the Moldovan minister, who was accompanied by a delegation of businessmen, confirmed the importance of cooperation in the field of agriculture between the two countries. This is the first visit to Egypt by a foreign minister from Moldova to since its independence almost 30 years ago. Furthermore, the two sides signed three memorandums of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, the first of which is the establishment of a political dialogue at the level of foreign ministers, the second concerns visa-free entry to the two countries for holders of diplomatic and private passports, and the last for cooperation between the Institutes of Diplomatic Studies of the two countries. Shoukry pointed out that these MoUs come within the framework of the keenness of the two countries to strengthen relations and establish a mechanism for periodic consultations, which would contribute to strengthening cooperation. He added that on the side-lines of this visit, a meeting of the Joint Business Council was held with the aim of strengthening trade cooperation and exploring new areas of cooperation. Shoukry also expressed his aspiration for the continuation of communication and coordination between the two sides on all fronts. For his part, Popescu expressed his personal pleasure for visiting Cairo, saying: "The visit is an opportunity to give impetus to relations between the two countries and express the desire to expand cooperation between the two sides." He also pointed out that the signed MoUs will contribute to the exchange of views and coordination between the two sides in addition to facilitating the entry of holders of diplomatic and private passports. Furthermore, He stressed that Moldova has sought to improve the experience of its citizens, especially Arabic-speaking ones, describing the current year as "complicated" for his country in light of the Russian-Ukrainian War. Additionally, he praised the cooperative relations with Egypt, noting that bilateral projects in the tourism, new energy, and agriculture sectors were discussed. "During the talks, we touched upon the situation in Ukraine, the need to respect the sovereignty of states in the framework of efforts to maintain international peace, as well as the negative effects of the war on our countries and on food and energy security," he added. "On Monday, we had a difficult day, as missiles targeting Ukraine crossed the airspace of Moldova... Moldova should not be part of the war on Ukraine," he asserted. "My country is a productive agricultural country that only seeks to supply food to world markets," he concluded.
