CAIRO, July 19 , 2018 (MENA) - Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri held a phone call with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono to offer his heartfelt condolences over the victims of floods, the worst ever to hit western Japan in 36 years. Some 219 persons were killed in the disastrous floods that rocked Japan last week. Many of the deaths have occurred in three prefectures: Okayama, Hiroshima, and Ehime. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said Shoukri expressed the Egyptian government and people's solidarity with Japan in face of this disaster. He also lauded the deeply-rooted relations between Egypt and Japan, expressing interest in further developing them. The Japanese top diplomat said he is looking forward to visiting Egypt and meeting President Abdel Fattah El Sisi soon. He said Japan is keen on enhancing relations with Egypt in all domains through contributing to its mega projects that are currently under construction. He invited Shoukri to visit Japan to continue talks over furthering bilateral relations in all domains in a way that level up to the distinguished political relations binding the two states.