Egyptian-Canadian talks to enhance bilateral cooperation, address African issues

Fergus expects more Canadian involvement in Africa during coming period

Ambassador of Egypt to Canada Ahmed Abu Zeid received Greg Fergus, Vice-President of the Canadian/African Parliamentary Friendship Association, on Wednesday to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation and address African issues.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the meeting came within the framework of an effort aimed at consulting on ways to strengthen Canadian-African relations, listening to Egypt's assessment of the challenges facing the continent and how to cooperate between the two countries in order to support African issues and priorities.
Ambassador Abu Zeid reviewed the most prominent opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian/African relations, and the activities that Canada could undertake during the coming period in order to engage more with the African continent to help it deal with the challenges political, economic and social.
He also dealt with Egypt's assessment of the most prominent developments on the African arena, especially the challenges related to the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and the Nile water file, and Egypt's support to its fellow African countries, highlighting the opportunities for Egyptian/Canadian cooperation in this regard.
For his part, Fergus, who is also Member of the House of Commons of Canada, was keen to praise Egypt's role in its African surroundings, highlighting his country's interest in cooperating with Egypt to support development efforts and promote peace on the continent.
He said he is also keen to get acquainted with the Egyptian viewpoint on the most prominent African issues of concern to the Canadian decision-maker, in addition to reviewing Egypt's vision of ways to strengthen Canadian-African relations in the political, economic, commercial, developmental and cultural fields.
He further expressed his expectation that the coming period will witness more Canadian involvement in Africa.