His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, arrived in Cairo on Thursday on a working visit to Egypt, UAE national news agency WAM reported.
Sheikh Mohamed was welcomed upon arrival at Cairo International Airport by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. Following a short rest at the VIP Lounge, the two leaders exchanged cordial talks.
Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouie, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, Juma Mubarak Al Junaibi, UAE Ambassador to Cairo and Permanent Representative to the Arab League, and a number of civilian and military officials.
During his visit, Sheikh Mohamed held talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi regarding the latest regional and international issues of mutual concern and ways to bolster strategic co-operation.
The meeting, which took place at Al-Itihidaya Presidential Palace in Cairo, explored ways to enhance political, developmental and economic co-operation between the two countries that will help serve mutual interests.
They also discussed regional challenges, especially interferences from foreign parties, the ongoing crises in some Arab countries and the risks posed by terrorist organizations that could disrupt the security, stability and development in the region.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed affirmed the UAE’s full support for the Egyptian people seeking stability and development while stressing Egypt’s role in serving the Arab causes.
“The challenges are tremendous and diverse, and understanding, vigilance, integration and co-ordination among states are important and vital to create a common Arab vision that is capable of giving the Arab joint action an additional strong push to confront all challenges,” he said.
“Inter-Arab solidarity and cooperation is critical in the current phase and the UAE is always seeking to solidify the Arab joint action and views Egypt as the main pillar in that direction,” he added.
Egyptian President Al-Sisi lauded the UAE and its President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for supporting Egypt and setting up developmental projects in that country.
He recognized the need for the UAE and Egypt to continue bilateral cooperation at all levels as the current scenario in the region requires reinforcing Arab resilience so as to confront common challenges.
“Egypt will stand by the UAE in case of any regional and foreign threats,” he said.
The two sides also reaffirmed the depth of their bilateral ties and the importance of their cooperation across various fields. Both leaders acknowledged the importance of a concerted effort to ensure peace and stability in the region and globally besides finding peaceful political solutions to crises in some of the Arab regions that will preserve their sovereignty, territorial integrity and capabilities.
Among those who attended the talks from the UAE were H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouie, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, Lt.-General Juma Ahmed Al Bowardi, Military Advisor to Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Lt. General Isa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Major-General Staff Pilot. Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi, Commander of Air Force and Air Defense.
Prime Minister of Egypt Sherif Ismail and General Sedki Sobhiand Minister of Defense, attended from the Egyptian side.
