Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday ahead of the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace, where the two leaders discussed Gaza reconstruction and ways to deepen bilateral ties, Egypt's presidency said. Merz thanked Sisi for his mediation efforts that led to a ceasefire in Gaza, saying the truce "would not have been possible without the Egyptian president's decisive role," according to a presidential statement. He said Germany was ready to support reconstruction efforts in the enclave and hoped the peace would be lasting. Sisi expressed appreciation for Germany's stance and reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to strengthening relations to the level of a strategic partnership. He called for expanding the presence of major German firms in Egypt, citing the country's free trade agreements with Arab and African markets. The Egyptian president also stressed the importance of continued coordination with Berlin on regional crises, including those in Syria, Sudan and Libya, to prevent further escalation. Sisi welcomed Germany's participation in Gaza's reconstruction, underlining the need to consolidate the ceasefire, prevent renewed conflict, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The statement said Sisi expressed appreciation for Germany's support of Egypt within the European Union and voiced hope that the Egypt-EU summit scheduled for 22 Oct. in Brussels would be a success. He also invited Merz to make an official visit to Cairo, an invitation the German chancellor accepted. Merz described his meeting with Sisi as "the beginning of a new phase" in bilateral ties and said he would encourage more German companies to invest in Egypt. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
