BARCELONA, Oct 8 , 2018 (MENA) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Monday with his Maltese counterpart Carmelo Abela boosting bilateral relations as well as coordination on a host of regional and international issues of mutual interest. The meeting came on the sidelines of the third Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Barcelona. Shoukry hoped that Abela's proposed visit to Cairo will be an opportunity to promote bilateral co-operation to face common challenges in the Mediterranean region and to discuss the conditions in Libya and an array of issues related to terrorism, extremism and illegal immigration. In statements, Spokesman for the Egyptuian Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said that Shoukry, during the meeting, stressed the importance of economic co-operation between the two sides. They also discussed Egypt's genuine efforts to fight illegal immigration, saying no illegal migration boats were recorded to have sailed from Egyptian shores since September 2016, the spokesman said. Shoukry also stressed the necessity of backing UN efforts aiming at finding a permanent solution to the Libyan crisis, the spokesman said.