Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that there is a "strong bond" between Cairo and Vienna during a meeting with Austria's Chancellor Christian Kern, who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations with El-Sisi. During a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, the Egyptian president said he wished to enhance cooperation between the two both countries in the upcoming period, according to Egypt's presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef. The two leaders also discussed coordination on regional and international issues as well as counterterrorism efforts. Youssef said the two leaders agreed that efforts should be exerted to reach political solutions to conflicts in the region. Egypt also expressed its wish to see more Austrian companies invest in the country. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern during the 71st United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in late September 2016 to discuss boosting Egyptian-Austrian political and economic relations. In October 2016, the Egyptian-Austrian business forum agreed on boosting bilateral commercial relations, with Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz saying that there are 600 Austrian companies looking to invest in Egypt during the upcoming period.
