Egypt’s Minister of Defense, Mohamed Zaki, met his New Zealand counterpart, Ron Mark, during the latter’s visit to Cairo, the Egyptian armed forces stated on Thursday.

Both discussed various issues of common interest, including enhancing joint military cooperation and exchanging expertise aimed to maintain security and stability and confront potential threats.   

The meeting was attended by a number of military officials from the two sides and the New Zealand Ambassador to Cairo.

During the meeting, Zaki asserted the significance of the two countries’ relations, looking forward to bolstering bilateral coordination in the military sphere.

For his part, Mark praised the Egyptian military’s efforts to maintain the Arab national security and stability in the region.

Furthermore, Mark stated that his country is also looking forward to enhancing bilateral military coordination and cooperation in the coming period.

The New Zealand Minister arrived from Abu Dhabi where he met Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs.

At the meeting, the two sides explored ways of enhancing cooperation in the defense field between the UAE and New Zealand. They also discussed a number of issues of common concern, the latest developments in the region, and exchanged views on them.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides.