CAIRO, Jan 24 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty discussed over the phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio means of boosting bilateral ties within the framework of the Egypt-US strategic partnership.

The phone call falls within the framework of contacts with the US administration after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on January 20.

In statements, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Tamim Khallaf said that Abdelatty congratulated Rubio over assuming his new post, underlining that the US Senate voted unanimously to confirm Senator Marco Rubio's as secretary of state, a matter that reflects full confidence in his ability to manage US foreign policy.

During the telephone conversation, Abdelatty said he is looking forward to closely working with the US Secretary and the new US administration to strengthen the Egypt-US strategic partnership that extended for more than four decades.

He also expressed Egypt's keenness on raising the level of bilateral ties in the political, military, economic, and development domains in a way that will help achieve the two countries' common interests and maintain security and stability in the Middle East.

Abdelatty also stressed the importance of encouraging US companies to invest in Egypt, particularly in promising sectors.

He also called for holding an economic forum in 2025, with the participation of major US companies, underlining the measures and steps taken by the Egyptian government to support the private sector and create a conducive business environment in Egypt.

The two sides also discussed in depth crises and successive regional developments in the Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya, the Horn of Africa, the security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Egypt’s water security.

They agreed on the importance of shoring up cooperation and coordination between the two countries with the aim of reducing escalation and entrenching peace and stability in the region.

Abdelatty underlined the importance of continuing coordination between Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to ensure the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

He also urged all parties to respect the terms of the agreement and work on implementing its stages on the specified dates.

Abdelatty also stressed the importance of reaching a final settlement to the Palestinian issue that will lead to establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution, and in a way that prevents the eruption of violence between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

For his part, the US State Secretary praised the Egypt-US strategic partnership and Egypt's efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner swap deal in Gaza.

He also stressed the new US administration's keenness on pushing forward ties with Egypt in various domains in the coming stage. (MENA)
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