President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri, who visited Egypt during his first official trip since again assuming the position of Lebanese prime minister in December 2016. According to a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency, Al-Sisi received Hariri at the Ittihadiya presidential palace. Both of them expressed interest in fostering bilateral relations between their countries.
Moreover, Al-Sisi praised Hariri’s role in reaching a political agreement that unites all Lebanese factions, asserting Egypt’s full support to the political stability of Lebanon. He also welcomed the establishment of a joint committee between both countries’ prime ministers.
The committee will oversee the signing of a number of agreements and memorandum of understanding in different fields to meet the needs of both countries’ people.
From his side, the Lebanese prime minister expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role in the Arab world and praised its role in supporting security and stability in Lebanon. He further affirmed his interest in developing the relationship with Egypt in economic, commercial, and touristic fields.
Furthermore, Hariri noted that his country is interested in increasing the exchange of commercial expertise between both countries, in addition to intensifying the exchange of expertise in the fields of health, transportation, and education.
The presidency also noted in its statement that Al-Sisi discussed a number of subjects with Hariri and expressed Egypt’s appreciation of the diversity of Lebanese society and the current government’s stance in highlighting the need for moderation and avoiding tensions, including religious extremism and foreign interference.
Hariri mentioned that Egypt has achieved great success in reaching stability and security, in addition to putting the Egyptian economy on the right path. He further noted that Lebanon is ready to cooperate with Egypt in countering terrorism.
Hariri Calls for Improving Trade Exchange and Tourism with Egypt
On the sidelines of the meeting of the Egyptian-Lebanese Joint High Committee in Cairo, the Egyptian-Lebanese Businessmen's Forum organized a conference sponsored by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, Saad Hariri and Sharif Ismail, at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Many economic, financial and industrial figures and businessmen from both countries as well as members of the Lebanese ministerial delegation attended the conference.
After speeches delivered by Egyptian Minister of Industry and Trade Tarek Kabil, Lebanese Minister of Economy Raed Khoury and Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasreddine, Hariri delivered a speech underlying the importance of cooperation between the two countries. "We hope that the meetings of the eighth session of the Lebanese-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee would represent a landmark move in the relations between Lebanon and the Arab Republic of Egypt, which cannot be achieved without an active participation of the private sector in both countries," Hariri said.
A memorandum of cooperation between members and employees of the Chamber of Building Materials Industries – Federation of Egyptian Industries, and members and employees of the Union of Owners of marble, granite and cement plants in Lebanon was signed, by the president of the Union Nazih Najem (Lebanon) and Badawi Abdel Hakim and Ahmed Abdel-Hamid Abdessalam.
Daily News Egypt, Naharnet
23 March
