Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry received a phone call Wednesday from his Dutch counterpart, Vopke Hoekstra, to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of mutual concern. Ahmed Hafez, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the Dutch minister's call comes in the context of communication with the Egyptian side, especially with the start of the Dutch minister's duties last January. The call dealt with a number of issues related to bilateral relations between Egypt and the Netherlands and how to develop them in a way that reflects the interest of both countries in a framework of mutual respect. Furthermore, Shoukry received a phone call from Maltese Foreign Minister Evariste Bartolo as well within the framework of the close relations between Egypt and Malta. The two ministers discussed bilateral relations and ways of pushing them forward, especially in light of the distinguished pace of those relations in various fields and the mutual support they share in international forums. In this context, the two ministers welcomed the intensification of the mechanisms of political consultation between the two sides by increasing the frequency of mutual visits at all levels and pushing forward the work towards strengthening economic and trade relations. The two ministers also exchanged views on a number of regional issues of common concern and agreed to continue consultation and coordination in order to continuously promote the relations between the two friendly countries.
