CAIRO, Nov 21 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty on Thursday held a round of political consultations with his DR Congolese counterpart Therese Wagner at the beginning of his visit to Kinshasa.

The consultations focused on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, according to an official press release.

The visit shows Egypt's commitment to boosting its historical relations with DR Congo, based on mutual respect, fraternity, and joint efforts to develop a strategic partnership that serves the interests of both countries, Abdelatty said.

He described DR Congo as one of the leading African countries benefiting from Egyptian aid, technical cooperation programs, and capacity-building initiatives provided by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD), the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), along with scholarships available for Congolese students to study at Egyptian universities and institutes.

The two ministers also discussed enhancing economic and investment cooperation and increasing collaboration between investors from both countries, as well as launching an Egyptian-Congolese Business Forum to boost trade and investment relations.

Regarding the Nile water file, the ministers agreed to apply relevant principles of international law, particularly the principles of prior notification and not causing harm, emphasizing the importance of adhering to these principles in any discussions regarding the Nile water and other transboundary rivers.

They also highlighted the principles of consensus, cooperation, consultation, and the exchange of data and information.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s commitment to contributing to development projects in the DR Congo, particularly in the fields of energy and infrastructure.

He announced Egypt’s contribution to financing the MBANKANA 1 Dam, located on a tributary of the Congo River, as part of Cairo's commitment to supporting the development needs of Kinshasa.

The top diplomat also mentioned Egypt’s launch of a funding mechanism for development projects in the countries of the Southern Nile Basin and the establishment of a specialized cardiac surgery wing at Kinshasa General Hospital, which will be equipped by EAPD and operated by Egyptian doctors to transfer expertise and train Congolese medical staff.

The two ministers also discussed regional issues of mutual concern, including the situation in Eastern Congo, the Nile Basin, Sudan and Somalia as well as tensions in the Middle East.

Following the consultations, the two ministers signed a joint statement and an agreement for the mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of official passports, with the aim of facilitating high-level official visits to strengthen bilateral relations. (MENA)

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