By Ashraf Sadek: Egypt and Saudi Arabia enjoy excellent ties as the two Arab countries share a strategic partnership, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said Wednesday. He added that the stance of the two countries was clear on a host of substantive regional issues, such as boosting joint Arab action. "The two countries will continue their efforts to unify Arab ranks," President Sisi said during his meeting with the Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs, Ahmed Qattan, who is on an official visit to Cairo. Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said that President Sisi and Minister Qattan discussed the possibility of launching a set of joint development projects in Africa with particular focus on the Nile Basin countries. These projects would be implemented by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and some African countries, Ambassador Radi said. President Sisi praised the depth of the historical and brotherly ties between Cairo and Riyadh and discussed with Minister Qattan a host of regional and international issues of bilateral concern, Ambassador Radi added. Minister Qattan said that his visit to Cairo, which lasted a few hours, was part of the constant consultations and coordination between Cairo and Riyadh at this delicate and sensitive stage through which the Arab nation was passing. President Sisi and Minister Qattan also discussed Egyptian-Saudi relations, Ambassador Radi said in his round-up of the meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Acting Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel. "President Sisi and Minister Qattan discussed the latest regional and international developments and current affairs in the region. They confirmed the depth of the strategic relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia," Ambassador Radi said. They also discussed the latest developments pertaining to the Palestinian and Syrian files and the Egyptian-Saudi counter-terrorism efforts.
