Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Tuesday held political consultations with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and to exchange views on regional and international developments. Abdelatty affirmed the deep ties between the two countries and expressed his desire to continue working to elevate bilateral relations, particularly in the economic, trade, and investment spheres. He highlighted Egypt's recent economic reforms and its efforts to encourage the private sector to lead development, welcoming the significant role played by the more than 1,600 German companies in the Egyptian economy. The minister said Egypt looks forward to attracting more German investment, especially in localising industries, including automotive manufacturing. He also pointed to the keenness to convene the joint economic committee between the two countries in the near future. Cooperation in vocational training and labour mobility represents a good opportunity for mutual benefit, Abdelatty said, praising the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Egypt and the state of Bavaria in this regard, which he described as a new start for Egyptian-German cooperation in the field of migration. The two ministers also discussed cooperation in Africa, with Abdelatty expressing his hope for German participation in the Aswan Forum, which will be held this month. The talks covered a number of regional and international files, led by the developments in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian cause. The Egyptian minister reviewed Cairo's intensive efforts to stop the war in the Strip and stressed the importance of Germany pressuring Israel to respond to efforts to end the war and to comply with international law. He also reiterated the importance of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the entry of humanitarian aid, the non-annexation of the West Bank, and the prevention of any displacement of the Palestinian people. Abdelatty also briefed his German counterpart on the results of his visit to Sudan earlier this month and Egypt's efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and push for a comprehensive political process that respects Sudan's sovereignty and unity. Regarding Libya, the minister stressed the need to continue pushing the political track in a way that preserves Libyan ownership of the solution and leads to simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible, as well as the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries. On the issue of water security, the foreign minister affirmed that it is an "existential issue" for Egypt, stressing the importance of cooperation in accordance with international law to preserve the interests of all Nile Basin countries and rejecting unilateral actions that violate international law in the eastern Nile Basin.
