Egypt and South Africa have agreed to continue coordination on fiscal and institutional reforms of the African Union, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Saturday. Foreign minister Sameh Shoukry met with his South African counterpart Lindiwe Sisulu in Mauritania's Nouakchott on the sidelines of the AU Summit, where they discussed bilateral ties and a number of issues of common interest. Shoukry expressed Egypt's aspiration to develop bilateral ties in all fields, including convening a joint commission in the upcoming period and exchanging visits by top officials. The Egyptian FM also said that he is keen to visit South Africa's national administrative capital Pretoria and document cooperation between the two sides for the benefit of both countries and Africa as a whole. Sisulu expressed her appreciation for Egypt's cooperation with South Africa, highlighting the historical relations between the two countries. She also expressed her wish to have Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visit South Africa. Shoukry travelled to Mauritania on Wednesday to participate in the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union. Egypt's participation in the summit and its preparatory meetings come as part of the country's commitment to addressing issues on the continent, especially as Egypt prepares to chair the AU summit in January 2019, according to Egyptian foreign ministry statements. The executive council meetings come a few days before the AU's 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government.
