Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein welcomed efforts to intensify cooperation between the two countries as they met in Cairo on Sunday. During their meeting, El-Sisi and Hussein discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, particularly counter-terrorism as one of the most significant challenges facing the world, Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said in a statement. Hussein praised the efforts Egypt exerts to face extremist thought and ideologies as well as terrorism domestically and regionally, and the pioneering role played by Egypt's Al-Azhar in this regard, the statement read. The top Malaysian diplomat conveyed the greetings of Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to President El-Sisi. He affirmed the importance Malaysia attaches to the enhancement of bilateral relations with Egypt in various fields as well as in the international realms. The statement said Malaysia's interest in boosting ties with Cairo comes in light of Egypt's leading role at the regional and international levels as well as its effective efforts in facing terrorism and maintaining stability and peace in the Middle East. El-Sisi, during the meeting, said Egypt welcomes enhancing cooperation with Malaysia in different international realms, sending his greetings to the Malaysian premier. He also welcomed fostering cooperation with Malaysia, especially in the economic, commercial and investment fields. The meeting comes only few days after El-Sisi made a video call with the Malaysian prime miniter, in which they discussed ways of boosting bilateral ties and discussed regional and global issues of mutual concern. The Malaysian premier praised Egypt's efforts that led to stopping escalation between Palestinian factions and Israel in the Gaza Strip last month, as well as the Egyptian initiative to rebuild the enclave. Yassin also lauded efforts led by Egypt to urgently re-launch the Palestinian and Israeli peace talks, with the aim of reaching a fair solution to the long-running conflict in accordance with international terms. The Malaysian FM also held a press conference today with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, who described Hussein's meeting with El-Sisi as "fruitful." Shoukry, after his talks with Hussein, said they discussed means to enhance the Egyptian-Malaysian relations in various fields. They also agreed to increase cooperation, expressing Egypt's aspiration to hold a joint economic committee with Malaysia, Shoukry noted. The Egyptian FM hailed the economic and technological progress Malaysia has achieved over the past years. Hussein in the press conference described his meeting with Shoukry as "historic" and said his visit to the Egyptian capital reflects the success of the growing relations between the two countries. The top Malaysian diplomat hailed Egypt's descision to vaccinate Malaysian students residing in the country against coronavirus. Hussein also lauded Egypt's efforts to achieve ceasefire between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
