Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said cooperation with other African nations is important. He said his government's first move toward cooperation with a foreign nation was within the continent, and specifically with Nile Basin countries. His current visits to Uganda and Ethiopia are a first step in Egypt's new foreign policy. Shortly after landing at Entebbe airport on Wednesday, Sharaf told the media accompanying him that he intended to undertake more African tours within the coming period. "This is a new chapter in Egyptian-African foreign relations, especially with Nile Basin countries,” he said, “meaning cooperation will be through inclusive plans between all of the Nile Basin states." Sharaf confirmed that his visit to Uganda was to join in the inauguration celebrations of new Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni He also said he would convey a message from Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed forces, to the Ugandan president concerning bilateral relations and saying the idea behind Egypt's approach to Egyptian nations is that they are friendly states and important to Egypt. Arabic here.