President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed to US President Donald Trump the importance of continued joint Egyptian-American cooperation to eradicate terrorism during their meeting in New York Monday on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In an official statement, Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Bassam Rady said the US President praised Egypt's successful efforts in firmly confronting the dangers of terrorism, and added the country is both at the forefront in the fight against terrorism and a central partner in this war. El-Sisi said both countries should continue cooperating to prevent terrorists groups from gaining access to funding, weapons and members. “Well, I want to thank you, and I want to congratulate you on doing an outstanding job with respect to terrorism. I know you're working very hard on that. It's not easy. And you're at the forefront. But you've done an outstanding job, and I just want to congratulate you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much,” Trump told El-Sisi according to a White House statement. Trump stressed to El-Sisi that this country will work with Egypt in eliminating terrorism, saying “and we will go all the way”, according to the briefing. The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation between Egypt and the US in the economic front, as well as means to increase investments by American companies in Egypt in light of Cairo's ongoing economic reform program. Trump praised the successful steps El-Sisi has undertaken to reform the Egyptian economy and increase its competitiveness, expressing his wish to increases the size of trade exchange between the two countries and boost joint investments. Egypt is the second largest recipient of US economic and military aid. Trade exchange between Egypt and the United States has risen by 29.2% to reach $3.8 billion in the first seven months of 2018 from $2.96 billion for the same period last year, according to statements by Egypt's trade minister last September. El-Sisi and Trump also discussed a number of regional issues including the conditions in Libya, Syria, Yemen, as well as the Palestinian issue and ways to revive the peace process. The Egyptian President affirmed Egypt's steady stance towards the Palestinian cause, stressing the importance of reaching a fair and comprehensive solution which guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state within the framework of international accords. El-Sisi expressed Egypt's keeness to cooperate with the US on revitalizing the Palestinian- Israeli negotiation process, and shared with Trump Egypt's efforts in accomplishing Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation as a main step to resume negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Shortly after the meeting, the two Presidents sent out messages on their official social media accounts, expressing happiness over the meetings. “It's an honor for me to meet a great personality like President Donald Trump, who has brought about unique changes in the policies of the US on a world scale,” El-Sisi said on his Facebook account. Meanwhile, Trump described the meeting also as an ‘honor.' “It was my great honor to welcome President @AlsisiOfficial of Egypt to the United States this afternoon, in New York City. Great meetings! #UNGA,” Trump posted on his Twitter account. Monday's meeting was the first meeting between both leaders since Sisi won a second presidential term last April. However, it was the fifth meeting between the two presidents since both presidents took office. The last meeting between Sisi and Trump took place in September 2017 in New York, when the Egyptian leader was attending the 72nd session of the UNGA.
